Stingiest Sippers: The 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles in the U.S.

In the past 17 years, no vehicle in America outsold the Ford F-150 on a monthly or yearly basis — not once. In May of this year, however, Honda moved more Civics and Accords and Toyota more Corollas and Camrys than Ford moved of its bestseller. This shift has less to do with a change in Americans’ vehicular preferences than the fact that trucks guzzle fuel, the cost of which has doubled in the past three years.

America has been sideswiped by the $4 gallon of gasoline, and auto industry heads believe the higher gas prices are permanent, not just a temporary shift or spike. Companies have been reconfiguring their lineups accordingly. GM has green-lighted the electrically motivated Volt plug-in hybrid for a 2010 release, and in addition to ceasing production of trucks and SUVs at four U.S. plants and idling thousands of workers, it is considering selling off the iconic Hummer brand.

From a manufacturing perspective, it’s increasingly difficult to build fuel-sipping vehicles, as current safety and emissions technologies add weight, a primary nemesis of fuel economy. Hybrid technology and low mass are the most cost-effective strategies to better fuel economy, and the bulk of our list of the 10 most-fuel-efficient vehicles utilize one or both. Toyota plays both sides, managing to field three of the top 10 — four if you count the Nissan Altima, which uses the Toyota Camry’s hybrid drive system under license.

That five of the vehicles on our list are hybrids is a harbinger of things to come. Although there’s only one diesel in this group, expect that to change. The following vehicles are ranked according to their EPA combined fuel-economy ratings. Since the EPA calculation favors city mileage, that number is used here as a tiebreaker.

The Toyota Prius, the gold standard for fuel economy, is a bit like steamed broccoli: utterly insipid but wholesome just the same. Iconic status was guaranteed when Hollywood types with air-conditioned mega-mansions trotted out Priuses as their green beards, even before the car was immortalized with its own episode of South Park. An anodyne ownership experience includes tepid acceleration, numb steering and nonlinear brakes. Of note are the unbeatable fuel economy, the impressively low price, and the unique, futuristic lines that house a large amount of usable space. Stay tuned for the next-generation Prius and a plug-in version, which will further increase fuel economy, in 2011.

City: 48 mpg

Highway: 45 mpg

Combined: 46 mpg

Base Price: $22,160

The Prius’s main contender is the Civic Hybrid, a more quotidian approach to economical hybrid transportation. In rendering the hybrid more aerodynamic, Honda also made it one of the better-looking Civic offerings, more likely to appeal to those who don’t need to wear their environmentalism on their lapel — although this might be part of the reason it hasn’t seen nearly the sales success of the Prius. The Civic Hybrid drives more like a regular car than the competition, is a more responsive handler and is a touch less sluggish. The Civic’s hybrid system is simple and compact but doesn’t deliver quite the miserly numbers of the Prius.

City: 40 mpg

Highway: 45 mpg

Combined: 42 mpg

Base Price: $23,270

A small sum of money gets you a Lilliputian car that returns the third-best fuel mileage of any vehicle here. The Smart Fortwo delivers solidly on its niche-market promise. It’s the ultimate urban vehicular solution as defined by stylish cachet, excellent fuel economy and — by virtue of being the smallest — being also the biggest gun in the parking wars. Your mileage may vary; ours did, with an average of four fewer mpg than the EPA’s combined number. Given that the Fortwo is the slowest-accelerating passenger vehicle in the country (say a Hail Mary before merging onto a freeway), a lead foot, with a resulting impact in fuel economy, is practically a safety requirement.

City: 33 mpg

Highway: 41 mpg

Combined: 36 mpg

Base Price: $12,235

The Altima Hybrid is sold only in California and in the seven Eastern states that share the California Air Resources Board’s air-quality statutes, which is a shame because it delivers hybrid efficiency in a stylish, pleasurable-to-drive sedan. The Altima Hybrid delivers similar fuel economy numbers to those of the Camry Hybrid, which isn’t surprising considering Nissan licensed Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive for the effort. Paired with Nissan’s 2.5-liter gasoline engine, the Altima Hybrid returns performance numbers better than the standard model. It delivers on its sporty looks and design-forward interior with a fun, enthusiastic chassis and precise steering. If the name “Camry” makes your inner rebel cringe, you’d do well to consider the Altima Hybrid.

City: 35 mpg

Highway: 33 mpg

Combined: 34 mpg

Base Price: $26,140

Yellow paintbrush-wielding New York cabbies can’t be wrong. The Toyota Camry Hybrid is good at moving passengers economically and without drama. Unlike the Altima Hybrid, you can buy the Camry Hybrid nationwide. Hybridization did nothing to impact the virtues that make the Camry an award-winning, family-hauling appliance: laudable road manners, quiet and comfortable operation and a highly competent overall experience. Stepping up to the hybrid also begets stability control and the top-of-the-line XLE interior package, minus leather seats.

City: 33 mpg

Highway: 34 mpg

Combined: 34 mpg (Ratings from 2008 model year)

Base Price: $25,860

The TDI, as equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, shines in highway driving, returning fuel economy on par with the air-hockey-table-sized Smart Fortwo. Diesel currently outpaces gasoline prices by about 20 percent, but the TDI betters the fuel economy of the next-thriftiest Jetta model by more than 30 percent. The SportWagen, although slightly more expensive than the sedan (pricing starts at $24,240), suffers no penalty in fuel economy. It offers more luggage volume than the Prius with just slightly less passenger volume while being good-looking and offering a driving experience that won’t approximate the work of an anesthesiologist. Both aesthetically and dynamically, the diesel-sipping Jetta TDI is engineered to be enjoyed by the user, not just employed.

City: 30 mpg

Highway: 41 mpg

Combined: 34 mpg

Base Price: $22,640

The lone American ranger in this group is the Ford Escape Hybrid, the roughest and tumblin’-est vehicle here, if mostly by posture. Refreshed for 2009, the Escape addresses many of the issues that made it an almost unacceptable compromise, including the anemic performance, punishing ride and poor brake feel. The stronger four-cylinder now boasts 177 horsepower in addition to its hybrid-electric drive; the revised suspension system includes a rear anti-roll bar; and the brakes feel something like normal. The Escape is a hybrid SUV with solid moves at an affordable price for which no excuses need be made. Although an official fuel economy rating has yet to be obtained for the new model, not much change is expected from 2008.

City: 34 mpg (est)

Highway: 30 mpg (est)

Combined: 32 mpg (est)

Base Price: $29,000

It’s a happy day for consumers when one of the most-fuel-efficient vehicles sold is also one of the cheapest. The Yaris isn’t even too much of a slowpoke, scampering to 60 mph in fewer than nine seconds. If the petite Yaris seems more quirky than masculine, it’s because it was designed for markets where gas has always been expensive and where people say things like sauve qui peut. Those hoping for Lotus Elise–like reflexes or Gatsby-esque luxury will be disappointed, but those without champagne expectations will enjoy a plush ride and solid build quality. Despite a short wheelbase, the Yaris can transport deceptively large quantities of cargo.

City: 29 mpg

Highway: 36 mpg

Combined: 32 mpg

Base Price: $12,210

It’s not surprising that a small car designed and manufactured by BMW is a pleasurable thing, but that it’s extra miserly is icing on the strudel. Thanks to a recent redesign, a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder, slightly smaller dimensions and a new six-speed transmission conspire to produce good fuel efficiency, particularly on the highway, where an extra cog makes all the difference. The MINI Cooper and the slightly longer Clubman get the same fuel economy, so there’s no penalty for the latter other than greater expense and a reduced number of parking opportunities. Watch those options, though. Despite a reasonable $18,700 entry price, the last naturally aspirated MINI Cooper we tested cost as much as a Camry Hybrid.

City: 28 mpg

Highway: 37 mpg

Combined: 32 mpg

Base Price: $18,700

We crowned the Honda Fit the best of seven inexpensive people movers in a recent comparison test because it makes us smile as few cars this affordable or stingy on gas can. Mini-minivan styling might not seduce the vain, but the upshot to odd proportions is oodles of usable space — this thing is like a clown’s bottomless suitcase. You’ll need to mate a five-speed manual transmission to the Fit’s 1.5-liter engine for the best mileage, but this is something you’ll want to do, anyway, if you view cloverleaves as opportunities rather than nuisances. In Sport form, the Fit serves up similar fun and more passenger and cargo room than either the MINI Cooper or Clubman, for almost $4000 less.

City: 28 mpg

Highway: 34 mpg

Combined: 31 mpg

Base Price: $14,620