1999 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1999 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 37 EPA-rated 1999 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel leads at about $1,461 a year (38 MPG), while the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is the most expensive to run at $3,703 (16 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,938 a year to fuel. The class includes 1 electric and 0 hybrid or plug-in model.

Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles a year at $3.10/gal regular, $3.95/gal premium and 18¢/kWh. Each model is shown in its most efficient configuration.

Top 15

Annual fuel cost (lower is better)
  1. 1Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  2. 2Volkswagen Jetta Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  3. 3Toyota Corolla30 MPG $1,550
  4. 4Saturn SL29 MPG $1,603
  5. 5Chevrolet Prizm29 MPG $1,603
  6. 6Ford Escort28 MPG $1,661
  7. 7Mercury Tracer28 MPG $1,661
  8. 8Dodge Neon28 MPG $1,661
  9. 9Plymouth Neon28 MPG $1,661
  10. 10Mazda Protege27 MPG $1,722
  11. 11Daewoo Lanos26 MPG $1,788
  12. 12Mercury Cougar25 MPG $1,860
  13. 13Ford Contour25 MPG $1,860
  14. 14Mercury Mystique25 MPG $1,860
  15. 15Honda EV Plus48 MPGe $1,917

All 37 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
2Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
3Toyota Corolla Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
4Saturn SL Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
5Chevrolet Prizm Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
6Ford Escort Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
7Mercury Tracer Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
8Dodge Neon Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
9Plymouth Neon Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
10Mazda Protege Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
11Daewoo Lanos Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
12Mercury Cougar Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
13Ford Contour Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
14Mercury Mystique Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
15Honda EV Plus Electric 48 MPGe 81 mi $1,917
16Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
17Volkswagen Jetta Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
18Toyota Camry Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
19BMW 3 Series Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
20Kia Sephia Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
21Hyundai Elantra Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
22Nissan Altima Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
23Infiniti G20 Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
24Pontiac Grand Am Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
25Chrysler Sebring Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
26Dodge Avenger Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
27Daewoo Nubira Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
28Oldsmobile Alero Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
29Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
30BMW 5 Series Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
31Lexus ES Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
32Audi A4 Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
33Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
34Mazda Millenia Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
35Jaguar XJ Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
36Jaguar XJR Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
37Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Gas 16 MPG — $3,703

More 1999 rankings

1999 class rankings

This ranking in other years