2021 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 2021 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 37 EPA-rated 2021 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Kandi K27 leads at about $796 a year (114 MPGe), while the Toyota Mirai is the most expensive to run at $7,297 (74 MPGe). The median compact car costs $1,826 a year to fuel. The class includes 1 electric and 10 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. 1Kandi K27114 MPGe $796
  2. 2Toyota Corolla Hybrid52 MPG $894
  3. 3Honda Insight52 MPG $894
  4. 4Lexus UX Hybrid42 MPG $1,107
  5. 5Mitsubishi Mirage39 MPG $1,192
  6. 6Hyundai Accent36 MPG $1,292
  7. 7Kia Rio36 MPG $1,292
  8. 8Toyota Corolla35 MPG $1,329
  9. 9Nissan Versa35 MPG $1,329
  10. 10Mazda 235 MPG $1,329
  11. 11Volkswagen Jetta34 MPG $1,368
  12. 12Volkswagen Golf/GTI33 MPG $1,409
  13. 13Mazda 331 MPG $1,500
  14. 14Mazda CX-331 MPG $1,500
  15. 15Hyundai Veloster30 MPG $1,550

All 37 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Kandi K27 Electric 114 MPGe 59 mi $796
2Toyota Corolla Hybrid Hybrid 52 MPG — $894
3Honda Insight Hybrid 52 MPG — $894
4Lexus UX Hybrid Hybrid 42 MPG — $1,107
5Mitsubishi Mirage Gas 39 MPG — $1,192
6Hyundai Accent Gas 36 MPG — $1,292
7Kia Rio Gas 36 MPG — $1,292
8Toyota Corolla Gas 35 MPG — $1,329
9Nissan Versa Gas 35 MPG — $1,329
10Mazda 2 Gas 35 MPG — $1,329
11Volkswagen Jetta Gas 34 MPG — $1,368
12Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
13Mazda 3 Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
14Mazda CX-3 Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
15Hyundai Veloster Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
16Toyota C-HR Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
17Volvo S60 Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in hybrid 69 MPGe + 30 MPG 510 mi $1,629
18BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in hybrid 75 MPGe + 28 MPG 320 mi $1,666
19BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in hybrid 64 MPGe + 26 MPG 340 mi $1,826
20BMW 3 Series Gas 30 MPG — $1,975
21Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Gas 29 MPG — $2,043
22Audi A4 Hybrid Hybrid 28 MPG — $2,116
23Acura ILX Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
24Jaguar XE Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
25Volvo S60 Gas 27 MPG — $2,194
26Cadillac CT4 Gas 27 MPG — $2,194
27BMW M Hybrid Hybrid 26 MPG — $2,279
28Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Hybrid Hybrid 26 MPG — $2,279
29Lexus IS Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
30Acura TLX Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
31Genesis G70 Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
32Audi S4 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
33Subaru WRX Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
34Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Hybrid Hybrid 22 MPG — $2,693
35Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
36Rolls-Royce Dawn Gas 14 MPG — $4,232
37Toyota Mirai Fuel cell 74 MPGe 402 mi $7,297

More 2021 rankings

2021 class rankings

This ranking in other years