TOP 10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars from America

Many people think of cars from the US and Canada as being gas guzzlers, but this is nothing more than a myth. Americans are good at finances, and there are plenty of cars with moderate fuel consumption in the States. Having studied the technical data of popular cars on the local market, Columbus experts selected the 10 most efficient ones.

The first thing that stands out here is the hybrids, but even among ordinary gasoline cars there are models that will not be too hard on your wallet.

We ranked the Top 10 cars like that – not older than 5 years in reverse order, as their fuel consumption decreases. And along the way we noticed an interesting fact: over the past 4-5 years, the top ten most efficient cars have remained virtually unchanged with occasional inclusion of Ford, Nissan and Toyota cars.

10. СHEVROLET SPARK

• Engine: 1.4 L, 98 hp
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 4
• Fuel consumption: 6.2-7.8 L/100 km (highway-city)

Spark launched on the US market in 2012. To be precise, it was created on the basis of the Korean subcompact Daewoo Matiz that is well known among Europeans. It was famous for its modest dimensions and engine as well as for its low fuel consumption. For America, the engine was increased to 1.4 liters (84 hp with a boost to 98 hp in 2016). Since then, the car has hardly changed, remaining a comfortable and inexpensive city hatchback that is not too demanding on the gasoline quality. And with prices starting from $14,595 (in the basic configuration) to $17,000 (in the maximum configuration) it is the cheapest new car you can buy in America.

Small dimensions and low gasoline consumption - 7.1 L/100 km in the combined cycle – have been have been enough to keep Americans interested for almost a decade. But in 2021, the baby car began to lose ground with buyers switching to crossovers whose efficiency in the new models has significantly increased. Thus just 24,459 Sparks were sold in 2021, down 26.9% from the year before. At the beginning of 2022, Chevrolet announced that they were taking the Spark off the assembly line. 

9. VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

• Engine: 1.4 L, 147 hp
• Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.9-7.8 L/100 km (highway-city)

In Europe, the production of the compact sedan Volkswagen Jetta ceased with its sixth generation (2018). However, the seventh generation still saw the light with its production launched in Mexico. The car was sold as A7 in the North American and Chinese markets. Moreover, it was a separate model, and not an extended version of the VW Golf, which was typical for previous generations.

Until 2021, the car’s basic edition was produced with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and a 6-speed manual transmission, which offered gasoline consumption of 5.9 L/100 km on the highway and 7.8 L/100 km in the city.

In the 2021 model year, the car got a new 1.5-liter turbo charged engine with 158 hp - exactly the same as the hot new product of the conglomerate - the compact crossover VW Taos. The fuel consumption of the engine has decreased to 5.5 L/100 km on the highway.

With automatic transmission, the appetite increased a bit – to 5.7 - 7.6 L/100 km (highway-city) or 6.7 l/100 km in combined mode, which is a truly outstanding result for a car with an automatic transmission. And the automatic beat the stick in the city mode by as much as half a liter of fuel!

The price of a new Jetta in the basic S configuration with an 8-speed automatic transmission starts from $21,990.

 

8. KIA FORTE

• Engine: 2.0 L, 147 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.7-7.6 L/100 km (highway-city)

The small sedan Kia Forte, known in Europe as the Cerato, launched on the American market in 2009. Since then, there have been several generations of the model.

The fourth generation Forte, produced since 2018, turned out to be the best. It was particularly popular for its successful combination of a 2-liter engine with a CVT allowing for significantly improved fuel efficiency.

Gasoline consumption of the 147-horsepower engine is 5.7 L/100 km on the highway and 7.6 L/100 km in the city (or 6.7 L/100 km in combined mode). This, coupled with an MSRP of $19,090 for the base FE edition, makes the car one of the most efficient and affordable in its class.

And keep in mind that with a manual transmission, the gasoline consumption of the 2-liter engine is slightly higher - 6 L/100 km on the highway and 8.1 L/100 km in the city.

7. NISSAN VERSA

• Engine: 1.6 L, 122 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.9 - 7.4 L/100 km (highway-city)

Versa is the name of the redesigned Nissan Almera sedans intended for the North American market. Until 2020, these cars were equipped with a 1.6-liter engine producing 109 hp, which, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, consumed 6.5-8.7 L/100 km (highway-city). It showed even better efficiency with CVT - 6-7.6 L/100 km (highway-city).

While restyling the model in 2020, the engine was boosted by adding 13 horses. Modernization had a positive effect on the car’s efficiency. The fuel consumption of the Versa with a manual transmission remained almost the same, but with the CVT it dropped to 5.9-7.4 L/100 km (or 6.7 L/100 km in combined mode).

In the US, a new Nissan Versa S Xtronic starts at $17,875.

6. TOYOTA COROLLA

• Engine: 2.0 L, 168 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.7 - 7.4 L/100 km (highway-city)

Toyota Corolla is one of the oldest models of the famous Japanese automaker. It has been rolling off the assembly line for over 50 years with 12 generations of the car having changed over the course.

The current, 12th generation of the compact sedan has been produced since 2018. Since 2019, the sedan in the USA has been joined by a fuel efficient hatchback equipped with a 2-liter naturally aspirated engine producing 168 hp. and a Continuously Variable Transmission. This car consumes 5.7-7.4 liters of fuel per 100 km (on the highway and in the city, respectively, or 6.7 l/100 km in combined mode), which are some very good numbers. It is curious that a similar sedan with a less powerful 1.8-liter engine and 139 hp has slightly higher consumption - 6.2-7.8 L/100 km (highway-city).

The new Toyota Corolla hatchback, SE trim with a 2.0 liter engine and a CVT costs $23,040 in the US.

 

5.  KIA RIO

• Engine: 1.6 L, 120 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.7 – 7.1 L/100 km (highway-city)

The fourth generation this sedan, produced since 2018, is the cheapest car in KIA's model line in the American market. The car is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine with 130 hp (until 2020) or 120 hp (from 2020), working in tandem with a Continuously Variable Transmission.

The manual transmission was no longer offered on this model after 2019, and in 2020, the engine was updated for greater efficiency. At the same time, ten horsepower was sacrificed which led to a reduction in fuel consumption by 1.3 liters in the city – to 7.1 L/100 km versus 8.4 L/100 km for the old engine, and by 0.7 liters on the highway - from 6. 4 L to 5.7 L/100 km. Gasoline consumption of the new engine in combined mode is 6.5 L/100 km.

 
4. HYUNDAI ACCENT

• Engine: 1.6 L, 120 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.7-7.1 L/100 km (highway-city)

The Hyundai Accent sedan is almost a twin brother of the KIA Rio, created for those who want the same thing, but in a slightly different wrapper. Equipped with a 1.6-liter 120-horsepower engine with a CVT, it offers almost the same fuel consumption as the Rio (up to 6 L/100 km on the highway and up to 8 L/100 km in the city) but it costs a little more – from $17,690 for the base model.

The KIA Rio has a couple more advantages over the Hyundai: the car is available in both sedan and hatchback bodies, though not for the basic configuration. It also has a more advanced infotainment system with a larger touchscreen.

 
3. HONDA CIVIC

• Engine: 1.5 L, 180 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.6-7.4 L/100 km (highway-city)

The 11th generation Civic has been on the production line since the summer of 2021, produced in three body styles - sedan, hatchback, and coupe. It looks ascetic compared to some exciting previous generation models. It boasts a well-thought-out interior and an efficient 1.5-liter turbo engine with decent power of 180 hp. 

However, a naturally aspirated 2-liter engine producing 158 hp comes standard with the 1.5-liter one only available as an option for the EX edition and up, with the price starting at $26,365.

Fuel consumption of the 1.5-liter engine is 6.5 L/100 km in combined mode.

2. HYUNDAI ELANTRA

• Engine: 2.0 L, 147 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.5-7.1 L/100 km (highway-city)

This sedan is essentially a bigger version of the Accent, which provides for all its main advantages - a spacious interior with comfortable seats, plenty of legroom for rear passengers, and a roomy trunk.

The Elantra is available in both sedan and hatchback bodies. Both options come with an efficient 2-liter engine producing 147 hp.

Buyers are offered three different transmission options to choose from – manual, automatic and CVT with the latter being the most efficient with the engine of the car, consuming 6.4-6.7 liters of fuel per 100 km in combined mode.

In the United States, prices for the base Elantra SE edition start at $20,995.

1. MITSUBISHI MIRAGE

• Engine: 2.0 L, 168 hp
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.5-6.5 L/100 km (highway-city)

The Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback has held the record for fuel efficiency in the United States for 10 years. It is known to the rest of the world as the Mitsubishi Space Star.

The sixth generation of the model, which appeared on the American market in 2013, had a 1.2-liter three-cylinder MIVEC engine producing only 78 hp. and two transmission options to choose from – a 5-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission. The most impressive fuel consumption figures are demonstrated by the combination of the engine with a CVT – 6 L/100 km in combined mode.

With the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Spark in 2022, the Mirage has not only become the most fuel-efficient, but also the cheapest production car sold in the United States.

The price of a base model with a manual transmission in the ES configuration starts at $14,645. A CVT will cost you an additional $1,300. A Mirage with a decent set of features and extras will cost $16,990 or more.

However, the Mitsubishi Mirage may lose its leading positions this year due to the fact that starting the 2023 model year, a CVT option is unavailable, and fuel consumption with automatic transmission’s is noticeably higher. However, the manufacturer assures that these figures will remain the same for the hatchback.