Best and Worst Fuel-Efficient New Cars
Consumer Reports took a look at the best and worst fuel-efficient cars to compare the difference in cost. In some cases, switching vehicles can save you almost $3,000 per year in fuel costs.
Of course, some people need large pickup trucks or SUVs for work, or to tow trailers, so switching to a smaller fuel-efficient vehicle is not a realistic option.
The calculations below are based on national fuel prices and assumes 12,000 miles driven annually. If you live in California, or drive more than 12,000 miles per year, the fuel costs are considerably higher.
| Best | Overall mpg | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf (electric) | 106* | $420 |
| Chevrolet Volt (plug-in hybrid) | 61** | $783 |
| Toyota Prius (hybrid) | 44 | $1,055 |
| Toyota Prius V (hybrid) | 41 | $1,133 |
| Honda Civic Hybrid | 40 | $1,161 |
| Lexus CT 200h (hybrid) | 40 | $1,161 |
| Smart ForTwo (premium) | 39 | $1,124 |
| Honda Insight EX (hybrid) | 38 | $1,222 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE | 38 | $1,222 |
| Volkswagen Golf TDI (diesel) | 38 | $1,307 |
| Worst | Overall mpg | Annual cost |
| Cadillac Escalade | 13 | $3,572 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 (diesel) | 13 | $3,822 |
| Ford Expedition EL | 13 | $3,572 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 13 | $3,572 |
| Chevrolet Avalanche | 14 | $3,317 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT (5.3L) | 14 | $3,317 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500 LTZ (diesel) | 14 | $3,549 |
| Chevrolet Suburban LT3 | 14 | $3,317 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ | 14 | $3,317 |
| Dodge Dakota (V8) | 14 | $3,317 |
| Dodge Durango V8 Crew | 14 | $3,317 |
| Dodge Ram 1500 SLT | 14 | $3,317 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited | 14 | $3,317 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE | 14 | $3,317 |
| Nissan Titan SV | 14 | $3,317 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 14 | $3,317 |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, CarsDirect, and Ryde Shopper are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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April 2021
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February 2021
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