The 104 Most Fuel Efficient Cars for 2009 ~ Hybrid Car Review
Hybrid Car Review: The 104 Most Fuel Efficient Cars for 2009

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

The 104 Most Fuel Efficient Cars for 2009

Previously, I've created lists for the most fuel efficient cars for 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005. So, it should be no surprise that I have create the list of most fuel efficient cars for 2009. What is suprising, for those who aren't aware, is how the list is being changed dramatically.

With the release of 50-state compliant diesel cars for model year 2009, we are seeing big changes in how fuel efficiency looks in the US. Diesel cars are more efficient than gas powered cars, but oil-burners are more expensive to buy, and for now, more expensive to fill up.

Hybrid cars are still rounding up the top spots for fuel efficiency, along with small compact cars. Put them together and you get the top spots going to hybrid, small family sedans like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. But there are some larger cars, SUVs and other types of vehicles in the list. They usually have a diesel engine or a hybrid engine, but not always.

As with the previous lists, I rank the cars based on their combined (45% highway, 55% city) fuel economy ratings from the EPA. These mpg numbers from the EPA have been updated to reflect 'real world' driving. Also, the fuel efficiency rating is detailed on the engine type and size.

One other point, an automatic is different from a stickshift and a 4 cylinder engine is different from a 6 cylinder engine. Which means you're going to see the word MINI a lot in the list, since there are many different types of MINI's based on engine type.


MPG
Ranking Category Vehicle City Highway Combined
1 family sedan Toyota Prius 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 48 45 47
2 family sedan Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 40 45 42
3 small cars Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 6-spd, Diesel 30 41 35
3 station wagon Volkswagen Jetta SportWagon 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 6-spd, Diesel 30 41 35
4 family sedan Nissan Altima Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 35 33 34
5 small cars Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel 29 40 34
5 hatchback Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel 29 40 34
5 station wagon Volkswagen Jetta SportWagon 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel 29 40 34
6 family sedan Toyota Camry Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 33 34 33
7 SUV Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 34 31 33
7 SUV Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 34 31 33
7 SUV Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 34 31 33
8 small cars Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 29 36 32
9 small cars MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 28 37 32
9 small cars MINI Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 28 37 32
10 small cars Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 29 35 32
11 small cars Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular 28 35 31
11 hatchback Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular 28 35 31
12 small cars Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 27 35 31
13 small cars Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 25 37 30
13 small cars Pontiac G5 XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 25 37 30
14 small cars Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 34 30
14 small cars Pontiac G3 Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 34 30
14 small cars Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 34 30
14 small cars Pontiac G3 Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 34 30
14 hatchback Pontiac G3 Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 34 30
14 hatchback Pontiac G3 Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 34 30
15 small cars Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 26 35 30
15 small cars Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 35 30
15 small cars Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 35 30
16 small cars Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular 25 36 30
17 small cars Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 33 30
17 small cars Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (S5), Regular 27 33 30
17 small cars Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 33 30
17 small cars Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 27 33 30
17 small cars Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 33 30
17 small cars Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 33 30
17 hatchback Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (S5), Regular 27 33 30
17 hatchback Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 33 30
17 hatchback Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 27 33 30
18 small cars MINI John Cooper Works 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 26 34 30
18 small cars MINI John Cooper Works Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 26 34 30
18 small cars MINI Cooper S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 26 34 30
18 small cars Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 26 34 30
18 small cars MINI Clubman S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 26 34 30
18 family sedan Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 34 30
18 family sedan Saturn Aura Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 34 30
18 convertible MINI John Cooper Works Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 26 34 30
19 small cars Pontiac G5 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 25 35 30
19 small cars Pontiac G5 GT 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 25 35 30
20 small cars Honda Civic CNG 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, RNG=170, Natural Gas 24 36 29
21 small cars MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 25 34 29
21 small cars MINI Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 25 34 29
21 small cars Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
21 small cars Pontiac G3 Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
21 small cars Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
21 small cars Pontiac G3 Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
21 hatchback Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
21 hatchback Pontiac G3 Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
21 hatchback Pontiac G3 Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 34 29
22 small cars Ford Focus FWD 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 24 35 29
23 small cars Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 32 29
23 hatchback Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 32 29
23 station wagon Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 26 32 29
23 station wagon Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 26 32 29
24 family sedan Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 33 29
25 small cars Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 6-spd, Regular 26 31 28
25 station wagon Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 26 31 28
26 SUV Saturn Vue Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 32 28
27 SUV Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 29 27 28
27 SUV Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 29 27 28
27 SUV Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 29 27 28
28 small cars Chevrolet Cobalt 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 33 28
28 small cars Pontiac G5 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 33 28
28 small cars Ford Focus FWD 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 33 28
28 family sedan Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 24 33 28
29 station wagon Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 25 31 28
30 small cars Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 24 32 28
30 small cars Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 32 28
30 family sedan Kia Spectra 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 32 28
30 hatchback Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 24 32 28
30 hatchback Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 24 32 28
31 small cars Pontiac G5 GT 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 23 32 27
31 small cars MINI Cooper S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 23 32 27
31 small cars MINI Clubman S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 23 32 27
31 family sedan Nissan Altima 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Manual 6-spd, Regular 23 32 27
31 luxury sedan Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec 6 cyl, 3 L, Automatic 7-spd, Diesel 23 32 27
31 coupe Nissan Altima Coupe 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Manual 6-spd, Regular 23 32 27
32 family sedan Pontiac G6 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (S6), Regular 22 33 27
32 family sedan Chevrolet Malibu 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (S6), Regular 22 33 27
32 family sedan Saturn Aura 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (S6), Regular 22 33 27
32 coupe Pontiac G6 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (S6), Regular 22 33 27
33 hatchback Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 30 27
33 hatchback Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 24 30 27
33 hatchback Dodge Caliber 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 24 30 27
34 small cars Suzuki SX4 Sedan 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 23 31 27
34 family sedan Nissan Altima 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 23 31 27
34 coupe Audi TT Coupe 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 23 31 27
34 coupe Nissan Altima Coupe 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 23 31 27
34 station wagon Hyundai Elantra Touring 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 23 31 27
35 SUV Chevrolet HHR FWD 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline 22 32 27
35 SUV Chevrolet HHR Panel FWD 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline 22 32 27
36 family sedan Kia Spectra 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 23 30 26
36 station wagon Hyundai Elantra Touring 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 23 30 26


I will come back in the following months to update the list as more figures come out from the EPA. But in the meantime, if you see any cars you think I missed, please let me know in the comments. Keep in mind that it's not enough for a car to get over 25 mpg on the highway to make the list. The combined fuel efficiency has to be over 25 mpg to make the cut.

How I created the list. I was frustrated with how the EPA fueleconomy.gov site gives you the fuel economy figures. You could find any car, but I wanted to compare a lot of cars and types of vehicles all at once. So I pulled the information from the fueleconomy site, and then ordered them. It took a bit of work, but here you are.

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