2019 head-to-head · Two-Seater

2019 Mazda MX-5 vs smart fortwo EV

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,975/ year to fuel
30 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$837/ year to fuel
108 MPGe

The 2019 smart fortwo EV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $837 a year to fuel (108 MPGe), versus $1,975 for the 2019 Mazda MX-5 (30 MPG). That's roughly $1,138 a year, or about $5,690 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Mazda MX-5
  • smart fortwo EV

Side by side

Mazda MX-5smart fortwo EV
$1,975 Your annual fuel cost $837
30 MPG Combined efficiency 108 MPGe
26 MPG City 124 MPGe
35 MPG Highway 94 MPGe
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 31 kWh
— Driving range 58 mi
299 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 0 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 10/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 3 hrs
Gas Powertrain Electric
Premium gasoline Fuel Electricity
2.0L 4-cyl Engine / motor Electric motor
6-speed automatic Transmission Single-speed
RWD Drivetrain RWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Mazda MX-5 vs smart fortwo EV across model years

  • Mazda MX-5
  • smart fortwo EV

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Among 34 2019 two-seaters, the Mazda MX-5 ranks 3rd and the smart fortwo EV 1st for lowest fuel cost.

Because the smart fortwo EV is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Mazda MX-5; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Mazda MX-5 or the 2019 smart fortwo EV?

Measured by cost to drive, the smart fortwo EV. The Mazda MX-5 is rated 30 MPG combined and the smart fortwo EV 108 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Mazda MX-5 vs. the smart fortwo EV per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,975 for the Mazda MX-5 and $837 for the smart fortwo EV.

Mazda MX-5 vs smart fortwo EV in other years

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