The Most Fuel-Efficient Cars of 2023
If you’re looking for good vehicles that have high combined mileage ratings from the EPA, we have the rundown.
While there has been a trend in the automaker industry toward alternative fuels in recent years, let’s be honest. The vast majority of Americans still purchase vehicles with gasoline engines. Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric (EV) vehicles only accounted for a combined 2.1% of all U.S. car sales in 2019! If you are interested in high-performing hybrids, however, read our comparison of hybrids, plug-ins, and EVs.
Whether you’re a commuter or just looking for some savings, these are the five most fuel-efficient vehicles that feature conventional gasoline engines.
5. 2023 Volkswagen GTI
EPA Combined Fuel Rating: 27 mpg
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most popular cars on the market thanks to its satisfying performance and size. The vehicle has outstanding fuel economy rating of 24 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. That’s the best performance of any car sold in the U.S. that doesn’t utilize an electric motor. The 2023 VW GTI is sure to save you money at the fuel pump, but it comes at a cost. It has a starting MSRP of $30,530.
4. (tie) 2023 Honda Accord
EPA Combined Fuel Rating: 32 mpg
Honda ties itself for second place when it comes to EPA combined fuel economy ratings. At 32 mpg, the 2023 Honda Accord and the slightly smaller 2023 Honda Civic are great buys. The Accord has a starting MSRP of $27,295. Even though it may be a mid-size vehicle, it has the interior volume of larger, more expensive family movers. What makes it truly special is the cargo area which offers a larger than average trunk. It also features the Honda Sensing Suite that includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking among other features.
3. 2023 Honda Civic
EPA Combined Fuel Rating: 33 mpg
The other Honda vehicle that achieves 36 mpg combined is the 2023 Honda Civic. The base trim also features a multi-angle rearview camera, but it also has a standard CVT. You’ll want to upgrade to the automatic if you want the highest fuel economy ratings possible. Still, with a base MSRP of $24,650, that’s more than affordable. For the 2023 model year, the Civic has undergone a full redesign with a new infotainment system and new trim options. This isn’t your average-looking compact model. The Civic also has the sporty driving dynamics of more expensive vehicles, all while maintaining class-leading fuel economy.
2. 2023 Hyundai Elantra
EPA Combined Fuel Rating: 37 mpg
Tied for first place is the 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The Elantra underwent a major overhaul for the 2021 model year, so this 2023 model still remains largely unchanged. Gone are the “fluidic sculpture” design cues of the previous design language. It was aggressive, though somewhat polarizing. Instead, the refreshed look is stately and sophisticated. If a little bland, it definitely has mass appeal and is inoffensive to any taste. Though its starting MSRP is $20,500, the Elantra comes packed with features. Among the features standard with this model are forward collision warning and pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and driver drowsiness detection.
1. 2023 Toyota Corolla
EPA Combined Fuel Rating: 47 mpg
The 2023 Toyota Corolla also comes in at first with a 47 mpg combined score. The base LE sedan model starts at $21,500. It comes loaded with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Satellite radio, Bluetooth and many other features. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite adds forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control among several other features.
(Featured image via Toyota)
