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Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Gas Cars (2026 Models)

No hybrids, no plug-ins: the gasoline-only cars that go farthest on a gallon, ranked by official EPA combined mpg for 2026 models.

Honda Civic36 mpg 2

Toyota Corolla35 mpg 3

Hyundai Elantra35 mpg

Quick answer

The Honda Civic sedan is the most fuel-efficient gas-only car for 2026, at 36 mpg combined (32 city, 41 highway). The Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra tie for second at 35 mpg combined.

How it's ranked: EPA combined mpg for 2026 model-year cars powered only by gasoline (hybrids, plug-ins and EVs are left out), from the US government's fueleconomy.gov data. Each model appears once, at its most efficient version. Cars with the same mpg are listed in EPA data order.

Honda Civic

Honda · Compact sedan · released 2026

36 mpg

The most efficient gas-only car.

The Honda Civic is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined (32 city, 41 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Civic 4-door sedan, with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,750 a year in fuel for typical driving. The photo shows a 2023 Civic Sport sedan.

Best forCommuters who want great mpg without a hybrid

Skip it ifYou want the best mpg possible - the Civic Hybrid does 49

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Toyota Corolla

Toyota · Compact sedan · released 2026

35 mpg

A 35-mpg commuter car.

The Toyota Corolla is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined (32 city, 41 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Corolla (1-mode transmission), with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,800 a year in fuel for typical driving. The photo shows a Corolla sedan of the same generation sold in China.

Best forLow-cost, reliable daily driving

Skip it ifYou want quick acceleration

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai · Compact sedan · released 2026

35 mpg

A 35-mpg car with lots of features.

The Hyundai Elantra is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined (31 city, 40 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Elantra with stop-start, with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,800 a year in fuel for typical driving. The photo shows an Elantra of the same generation sold in China.

Best forValue and features for the money

Skip it ifYou want a hatchback

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen · Compact sedan · released 2026

34 mpg

Volkswagen's 34-mpg sedan.

The Volkswagen Jetta is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined (29 city, 40 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Jetta, with front-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,850 a year in fuel for typical driving.

Best forHighway commuters - 40 mpg on the highway

Skip it ifYou want a hybrid option

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Kia K4

Kia · Compact sedan · released 2026

33 mpg

Kia's efficient compact.

The Kia K4 is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined (29 city, 39 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the K4 sedan, with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,900 a year in fuel for typical driving.

Best forA new design at a low price

Skip it ifYou want a hybrid option

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Nissan Sentra

Nissan · Compact sedan · released 2026

33 mpg

A 33-mpg sedan from Nissan.

The Nissan Sentra is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined (30 city, 38 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Sentra (3-mode), with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,900 a year in fuel for typical driving.

Best forA comfortable budget sedan

Skip it ifYou want sporty handling

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

MINI Cooper

MINI · Subcompact hatchback · released 2026

32 mpg

The most fun car on the list.

The MINI Cooper is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined (27 city, 39 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Cooper C 2-door, with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $2,400 a year in fuel for typical driving. The photo shows the electric Cooper of the same generation.

Best forFun driving that still saves fuel

Skip it ifYou want low yearly fuel costs - its EPA fuel-cost estimate is among the highest here

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Acura Integra

Acura · Compact luxury hatchback · released 2026

32 mpg

Acura's efficient sport hatch.

The Acura Integra is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined (29 city, 37 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Integra, with front-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $2,400 a year in fuel for typical driving.

Best forA premium badge with good mpg

Skip it ifYou want the lowest price

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai · Mid-size sedan · released 2026

32 mpg

A 32-mpg family sedan.

The Hyundai Sonata is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined (28 city, 38 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Sonata FWD with stop-start, with front-wheel drive and a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,950 a year in fuel for typical driving.

Best forRoom for a family with 32 mpg

Skip it ifYou want a hatchback

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Honda Accord

Honda · Mid-size sedan · released 2026

32 mpg

A big sedan with small-car mpg.

The Honda Accord is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined (29 city, 37 highway) in its most efficient 2026 version, the Accord, with front-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates about $1,950 a year in fuel for typical driving.

Best forA roomy, refined family sedan

Skip it ifYou want the best mpg - the Accord Hybrid does 48

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

Questions people ask

What is the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid car?

The 2026 Honda Civic sedan, at 36 mpg combined (EPA).

Which gas car gets the best highway mpg?

On this list, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, at 41 mpg highway.

Are hybrids more efficient than gas-only cars?

Yes. The 2026 Toyota Prius is EPA-rated at 57 mpg combined, far above the best gas-only car here.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the US EPA's official fuel economy data at fueleconomy.gov, for 2026 model-year vehicles.

How we ranked

EPA combined mpg for 2026 model-year cars powered only by gasoline (hybrids, plug-ins and EVs are left out), from the US government's fueleconomy.gov data. Each model appears once, at its most efficient version. Cars with the same mpg are listed in EPA data order. Every number on this page comes from the source linked under each pick, and every photo shows the actual product. Brands can't pay to be on this list.

List source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml · Updated 2026-11-11