2005 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 2005 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 43 EPA-rated 2005 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 $1,860 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. 5Honda Civic CNG28 MPGe $1,554
  6. 6Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  7. 7Volkswagen Jetta Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  8. 8Hyundai Accent/Brio28 MPG $1,661
  9. 9Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.028 MPG $1,661
  10. 10Nissan Sentra27 MPG $1,722
  11. 11Suzuki Swift27 MPG $1,722
  12. 12Chevrolet Aveo27 MPG $1,722
  13. 13Mazda 327 MPG $1,722
  14. 14Pontiac Wave27 MPG $1,722
  15. 15Chevrolet Cavalier26 MPG $1,788

All 43 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
5Honda Civic CNG Natural gas 28 MPGe — $1,554
6Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
7Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
8Hyundai Accent/Brio Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
9Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
10Nissan Sentra Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
11Suzuki Swift Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
12Chevrolet Aveo Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
13Mazda 3 Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
14Pontiac Wave Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
15Chevrolet Cavalier Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
16Pontiac Sunfire Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
17Ford Focus Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
18Mitsubishi Lancer Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
19Saturn Ion Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
20Toyota Camry Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
21Pontiac Grand Am Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
22Kia Rio Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
23Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
24Volkswagen Jetta Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
25Chrysler Sebring Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
26Dodge Stratus Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
27Suzuki Aerio Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
28Pontiac G6 Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
29Saab 9-3 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
30Chevrolet Optra Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
31Suzuki Forenza Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
32Suzuki Reno Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
33Infiniti G35 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
34Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
35Audi A4 Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
36Acura TSX Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
37Volvo S40 Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
38Volvo S60 Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
39Jaguar X-Type Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
40Lexus IS Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
41Pontiac GTO Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
42Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
43Bentley Continental Gas 12 MPG — $4,938

More 2005 rankings

2005 class rankings

This ranking in other years