2021 rankings · Subcompact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 2021 Subcompact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 34 EPA-rated 2021 subcompact cars by what they cost to fuel. The BMW i3 leads at about $805 a year (113 MPGe), while the Roush Performance Mustang is the most expensive to run at $3,950 (15 MPG). The median subcompact car costs $2,279 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. 1BMW i3113 MPGe $805
  2. 2MINI Cooper EV108 MPGe $845
  3. 3BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid100 MPGe + 31 MPG $948
  4. 4Chevrolet Spark33 MPG $1,409
  5. 5Karma GS-670 MPGe + 26 MPG $1,496
  6. 6Polestar 158 MPGe + 26 MPG $1,720
  7. 7Ford Mustang25 MPG $1,860
  8. 8MINI Cooper31 MPG $1,911
  9. 9MINI John Cooper Works29 MPG $2,043
  10. 10BMW 4 Series29 MPG $2,043
  11. 11Lexus LC Hybrid29 MPG $2,043
  12. 12Mercedes-Benz A-Class29 MPG $2,043
  13. 13Chevrolet Camaro22 MPG $2,114
  14. 14Audi A5 Hybrid28 MPG $2,116
  15. 15BMW 2 Series28 MPG $2,116

All 34 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1BMW i3 Electric 113 MPGe 153 mi $805
2MINI Cooper EV Electric 108 MPGe 110 mi $845
3BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in hybrid 100 MPGe + 31 MPG 200 mi $948
4Chevrolet Spark Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
5Karma GS-6 Plug-in hybrid 70 MPGe + 26 MPG 330 mi $1,496
6Polestar 1 Plug-in hybrid 58 MPGe + 26 MPG 470 mi $1,720
7Ford Mustang Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
8MINI Cooper Gas 31 MPG — $1,911
9MINI John Cooper Works Gas 29 MPG — $2,043
10BMW 4 Series Gas 29 MPG — $2,043
11Lexus LC Hybrid Hybrid 29 MPG — $2,043
12Mercedes-Benz A-Class Gas 29 MPG — $2,043
13Chevrolet Camaro Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
14Audi A5 Hybrid Hybrid 28 MPG — $2,116
15BMW 2 Series Gas 28 MPG — $2,116
16Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 27 MPG — $2,194
17Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid Hybrid 26 MPG — $2,279
18BMW M Gas 26 MPG — $2,279
19BMW 4 Series Hybrid Hybrid 26 MPG — $2,279
20BMW 8 Series Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
21Lexus RC Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
22Audi TTS Gas 25 MPG — $2,370
23Audi S5 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
24Infiniti Q60 Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
25Porsche 911 Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
26Lotus Evora Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
27Aston Martin DB11 Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
28Bentley Continental Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
29Lexus LC Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
30Ferrari Portofino Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
31Ferrari Roma Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
32Nissan GT-R Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
33Aston Martin DBS Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
34Roush Performance Mustang Gas 15 MPG — $3,950

More 2021 rankings

2021 class rankings

This ranking in other years