There has long been a link between the type of cars Americans purchase and gasoline prices. Simply put, the lower the price at the pump the more likely a consumer will gravitate toward purchasing a larger, less fuel-efficient vehicle — and vice versa.
As gas prices rebound this year after the pandemic slump, then, consumers are likely to be paying more attention to fuel economy when they shop for used cars, or, beginning this fall, new ones for the 2022 model year. (These were the best-selling cars of the last year.)
The good news is that all new passenger vehicles now get better gas mileage than they used to. Preliminary data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2020 Automotive Trends Report predicts that the average fuel economy of all light-duty passenger vehicles — meaning all cars and SUVs and most pickup trucks — will have increased to a record 25.7 miles per gallon for 2020 models, up from 24.9 mpg for 2019.Â
In all, fuel economy has risen by nearly 30% since 2004 thanks to improved powertrain efficiencies and the wider introduction of hybrid technology.
Click here to see the most fuel-efficient cars for 2022.
To identify the most fuel-efficient vehicles for the 2022 model year, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the EPA’s 2022 Fuel Economy Guide. Fuel efficiency for city, highway, and combined, as well as annual fuel costs for each vehicle, were derived from the report. (Remember that gas prices will vary from place to place according to local tax structures. These are the states with the lowest and highest gas taxes.)
Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
31. Chevrolet Spark ACTIV AV
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 37 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
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Source: Courtesy of Mini Cooper
30. Mini Cooper Convertible
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,750
Source: Courtesy of Mini Cooper
29. Mini Cooper Hardtop 2 door
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,750
Source: Courtesy of Mini Cooper
28. Mini Cooper Hardtop 4 door
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,750
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Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
27. Chevrolet Malibu
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 36 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
Source: Courtesy of Subaru
26. Subaru Impreza 4-Door
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
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Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
25. Hyundai Sonata
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (28 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
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Source: Courtesy of Kia
24. Kia K5
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
23. Hyundai Kona FWD
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
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Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
22. Hyundai Kona FWD
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (30 mpg city, 35 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
21. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
> Fuel efficiency: 32 mpg (33 mpg city, 30 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,450
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Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
20. Chevrolet Spark M-5
> Fuel efficiency: 33 mpg (29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,400
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Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
19. Chevrolet Spark AV
> Fuel efficiency: 33 mpg (30 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,400
Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
18. Chevrolet Spark ACTIV M-5
> Fuel efficiency: 33 mpg (29 mpg city, 37 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,400
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Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
17. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Blue
> Fuel efficiency: 34 mpg (36 mpg city, 31 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,350
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
16. Hyundai Elantra
> Fuel efficiency: 35 mpg (31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,300
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Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
15. Hyundai Elantra
> Fuel efficiency: 37 mpg (33 mpg city, 43 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,250
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Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
14. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
> Fuel efficiency: 37 mpg (37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,250
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
13. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue
> Fuel efficiency: 38 mpg (38 mpg city, 38 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,200
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Source: Courtesy of Kia
12. Kia Niro Touring
> Fuel efficiency: 43 mpg (46 mpg city, 40 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,050
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
11. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
> Fuel efficiency: 47 mpg (45 mpg city, 51 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $1,000
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Source: Courtesy of Honda
10. Honda Insight Touring
> Fuel efficiency: 48 mpg (51 mpg city, 45 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $950
Source: Courtesy of Kia
9. Kia Niro
> Fuel efficiency: 49 mpg (51 mpg city, 46 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $950
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
8. Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
> Fuel efficiency: 50 mpg (49 mpg city, 52 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $900
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Source: Courtesy of Kia
7. Kia Niro FE
> Fuel efficiency: 50 mpg (53 mpg city, 48 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $900
Source: Courtesy of Honda
6. Honda Insight
> Fuel efficiency: 52 mpg (55 mpg city, 49 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $900
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Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
5. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue
> Fuel efficiency: 52 mpg (50 mpg city, 54 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $900
Source: Courtesy of Hyundai
4. Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue
> Fuel efficiency: 54 mpg (53 mpg city, 56 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $850
Source: Courtesy of Mini Cooper
3. Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 door
> Fuel efficiency: 110 mpg (119 mpg city, 100 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $600
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Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
2. Chevrolet Bolt EUV
> Fuel efficiency: 115 mpg (125 mpg city, 104 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $550
Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
1. Chevrolet Bolt EV
> Fuel efficiency: 120 mpg (131 mpg city, 109 mpg highway)
> Annual fuel cost: $550
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