2004 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 2004 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 48 EPA-rated 2004 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Honda Civic Hybrid leads at about $1,134 a year (41 MPG), while the Bentley Continental is the most expensive to run at $4,938 (12 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,899 a year to fuel. The class includes 0 electric and 1 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. 1Honda Civic Hybrid41 MPG $1,134
  2. 2Honda Civic34 MPG $1,368
  3. 3Toyota Echo33 MPG $1,409
  4. 4Toyota Corolla31 MPG $1,500
  5. 5Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel36 MPG $1,542
  6. 6Volkswagen Jetta Diesel36 MPG $1,542
  7. 7Honda Civic CNG28 MPGe $1,554
  8. 8Hyundai Accent/Brio28 MPG $1,661
  9. 9Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.028 MPG $1,661
  10. 10Chevrolet Cavalier27 MPG $1,722
  11. 11Nissan Sentra27 MPG $1,722
  12. 12Suzuki Swift27 MPG $1,722
  13. 13Pontiac Grand Am27 MPG $1,722
  14. 14Pontiac Sunfire27 MPG $1,722
  15. 15Oldsmobile Alero27 MPG $1,722

All 48 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Honda Civic Hybrid Hybrid 41 MPG — $1,134
2Honda Civic Gas 34 MPG — $1,368
3Toyota Echo Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
4Toyota Corolla Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
5Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 36 MPG — $1,542
6Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 36 MPG — $1,542
7Honda Civic CNG Natural gas 28 MPGe — $1,554
8Hyundai Accent/Brio Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
9Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
10Chevrolet Cavalier Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
11Nissan Sentra Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
12Suzuki Swift Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
13Pontiac Grand Am Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
14Pontiac Sunfire Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
15Oldsmobile Alero Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
16Ford Focus Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
17Mitsubishi Lancer Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
18Chevrolet Aveo Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
19Daewoo Kalos Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
20Mazda 3 Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
21Hyundai Elantra Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
22Kia Rio Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
23Saturn Ion Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
24Kia Spectra Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
25Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
26Volkswagen Jetta Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
27Toyota Camry Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
28Chrysler Sebring Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
29Dodge Stratus Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
30Saab 9-3 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
31Suzuki Aerio Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
32Chevrolet Optra Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
33Daewoo Lacetti Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
34Suzuki Forenza Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
35Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
36Infiniti G35 Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
37Volkswagen Passat Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
38Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
39Audi A4 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
40Volvo S40 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
41Acura TSX Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
42Volvo S60 Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
43Jaguar X-Type Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
44Pontiac GTO Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
45Lexus IS Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
46Infiniti M45 Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
47Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
48Bentley Continental Gas 12 MPG — $4,938

More 2004 rankings

2004 class rankings

This ranking in other years