2015 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 2015 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 52 EPA-rated 2015 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV leads at about $788 a year (116 MPGe), while the Rolls-Royce Phantom is the most expensive to run at $4,232 (14 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,603 a year to fuel. The class includes 2 electric and 7 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)
  1. 1Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV116 MPGe $788
  2. 2Ford Focus EV105 MPGe $864
  3. 3Toyota Prius c50 MPG $930
  4. 4Honda Civic Hybrid44 MPG $1,057
  5. 5Lexus CT42 MPG $1,107
  6. 6Chevrolet Volt98 MPGe + 37 MPG $1,168
  7. 7Mitsubishi Mirage39 MPG $1,192
  8. 8Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid44 MPG $1,347
  9. 9Honda Civic34 MPG $1,368
  10. 10Ford Focus34 MPG $1,368
  11. 11Nissan Versa34 MPG $1,368
  12. 12Honda Civic CNG31 MPGe $1,403
  13. 13Mazda 333 MPG $1,409
  14. 14Toyota Yaris33 MPG $1,409
  15. 15Chevrolet Sonic32 MPG $1,453

All 52 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV Electric 116 MPGe 83 mi $788
2Ford Focus EV Electric 105 MPGe 76 mi $864
3Toyota Prius c Hybrid 50 MPG — $930
4Honda Civic Hybrid Hybrid 44 MPG — $1,057
5Lexus CT Hybrid 42 MPG — $1,107
6Chevrolet Volt Plug-in hybrid 98 MPGe + 37 MPG 380 mi $1,168
7Mitsubishi Mirage Gas 39 MPG — $1,192
8Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Hybrid 44 MPG — $1,347
9Honda Civic Gas 34 MPG — $1,368
10Ford Focus Gas 34 MPG — $1,368
11Nissan Versa Gas 34 MPG — $1,368
12Honda Civic CNG Natural gas 31 MPGe — $1,403
13Mazda 3 Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
14Toyota Yaris Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
15Chevrolet Sonic Gas 32 MPG — $1,453
16Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
17Hyundai Accent Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
18Kia Rio Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
19BMW 3 Series Diesel Diesel 36 MPG — $1,542
20Kia Forte Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
21Hyundai Veloster Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
22Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
23Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
24Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
25Volkswagen Jetta Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
26Volvo S60 Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
27Mitsubishi Lancer Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
28Volkswagen Beetle Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
29Volkswagen Beetle Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
30Scion tC Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
31Buick Verano Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
32Cadillac ATS Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
33Infiniti Q50 Hybrid Hybrid 31 MPG — $1,911
34Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Gas 30 MPG — $1,975
35MINI Countryman Gas 29 MPG — $2,043
36MINI Paceman Gas 29 MPG — $2,043
37Chevrolet Camaro Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
38BMW 3 Series Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
39BMW 3 Series Hybrid Hybrid 28 MPG — $2,116
40Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
41Acura ILX Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
42Acura TLX Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
43BMW 4 Series Gas 27 MPG — $2,194
44Audi A4 Gas 26 MPG — $2,279
45Volkswagen CC Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
46Lexus IS Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
47Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
48Subaru WRX Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
49Audi Q3 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
50Audi S4 Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
51Bentley Continental Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
52Rolls-Royce Phantom Gas 14 MPG — $4,232

More 2015 rankings

2015 class rankings

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