2013 rankings · Compact Cars
Most Fuel-Efficient 2013 Compact Cars, Ranked
We ranked all 49 EPA-rated 2013 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Ford Focus EV leads at about $864 a year (105 MPGe), while the Rolls-Royce Phantom is the most expensive to run at $4,232 (14 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,734 a year to fuel. The class includes 1 electric and 8 hybrid or plug-in models.
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)All 49 models
| # | Model | Type | Combined | Range | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Focus EV | Electric | 105 MPGe | 76 mi | $864 |
| 2 | Toyota Prius c | Hybrid | 50 MPG | — | $930 |
| 3 | Honda Civic Hybrid | Hybrid | 44 MPG | — | $1,057 |
| 4 | Lexus CT | Hybrid | 42 MPG | — | $1,107 |
| 5 | Honda Insight | Hybrid | 41 MPG | — | $1,134 |
| 6 | Chevrolet Volt | Plug-in hybrid | 98 MPGe + 37 MPG | 380 mi | $1,168 |
| 7 | Nissan Versa | Gas | 35 MPG | — | $1,329 |
| 8 | Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid | Hybrid | 44 MPG | — | $1,347 |
| 9 | Honda Civic CNG | Natural gas | 31 MPGe | — | $1,403 |
| 10 | Honda Civic | Gas | 33 MPG | — | $1,409 |
| 11 | Toyota Yaris | Gas | 33 MPG | — | $1,409 |
| 12 | Hyundai Accent | Gas | 32 MPG | — | $1,453 |
| 13 | Ford Focus | Flex-fuel | 32 MPG | — | $1,453 |
| 14 | Kia Rio | Gas | 32 MPG | — | $1,453 |
| 15 | Mazda 3 | Gas | 32 MPG | — | $1,453 |
| 16 | Chevrolet Sonic | Gas | 32 MPG | — | $1,453 |
| 17 | Mazda 2 | Gas | 31 MPG | — | $1,500 |
| 18 | Hyundai Veloster | Gas | 31 MPG | — | $1,500 |
| 19 | Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 20 | Kia Forte | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 21 | Acura ILX Hybrid | Hybrid | 38 MPG | — | $1,559 |
| 22 | Toyota Corolla | Gas | 29 MPG | — | $1,603 |
| 23 | Volkswagen Jetta | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 24 | Mitsubishi Lancer | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 25 | Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel | Diesel | 32 MPG | — | $1,734 |
| 26 | Volkswagen Jetta Diesel | Diesel | 32 MPG | — | $1,734 |
| 27 | Volkswagen Beetle Diesel | Diesel | 32 MPG | — | $1,734 |
| 28 | Volkswagen Golf/GTI | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 29 | Cadillac ATS | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 30 | Volkswagen Beetle | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 31 | Scion tC | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 32 | Suzuki Kizashi | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 33 | Volvo S60 | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $1,938 |
| 34 | Volvo C30 | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $1,938 |
| 35 | Buick Verano | Flex-fuel | 24 MPG | — | $1,938 |
| 36 | MINI Countryman | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,975 |
| 37 | Chrysler 200 | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,022 |
| 38 | Chevrolet Camaro | Gas | 22 MPG | — | $2,114 |
| 39 | BMW 3 Series Hybrid | Hybrid | 28 MPG | — | $2,116 |
| 40 | Acura ILX | Gas | 27 MPG | — | $2,194 |
| 41 | Audi A4 | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $2,279 |
| 42 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 43 | Acura TSX | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 44 | Volkswagen CC | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 45 | Audi S4 | Gas | 21 MPG | — | $2,821 |
| 46 | Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class | Gas | 20 MPG | — | $2,962 |
| 47 | Bentley Continental | Gas | 18 MPG | — | $3,292 |
| 48 | Mercedes-Benz CL-Class | Gas | 18 MPG | — | $3,292 |
| 49 | Rolls-Royce Phantom | Gas | 14 MPG | — | $4,232 |