Looking for a new ride with great gas mileage? We’ve pulled together a list of the most fuel-efficient cars of 2013 that do not require an electrical connection. While plug-in vehicles can be very cool, they’re not practical for folks without access to an overnight plug.
The highest-MPG cars with Manfacturer Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) of $16,000 or less are the Nissan Versa ($11,190) Chevy Spark ($12,185), Chevy Sonic ($14,185), Toyota Yaris ($14,370), Scion iQ ($15,495), Ford Fiesta SFE ($15,935), and Fiat 500 ($16,000). The most frugal of the fuel-sippers are powered by conventional gasoline engines. The Honda Insight is the least expensive hybrid ($18,600), followed by the Toyota Prius c ($19,080).
The $4,710 price difference between the Prius c and the Toyota Yaris (on which the Prius c is based) represents more than just the cost of the hybrid drivetrain. You’ll want to use the MPGomatic Gas Mileage Calculator to determine how many miles it will take to drive in your specific conditions to warrant the added expense.
Be sure to consider the costs of different types of fuel. The cumulative cost differential between regular unleaded, premium unleaded, E85 and diesel fuel can add up over the years. The Ford Focus is the only vehicle on this list capable of running E85.
We’ve produced video reviews of a great many vehicles on this list over the years, so be sure to check them out. It’s our goal to cover them all …
2013 Toyota Prius c
1.5-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
53 City / 50 Combined / 46 Highway
Starting MSRP: $19,080
2013 Toyota Prius
1.8-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
51 City / 50 Combined / 48 Highway
Starting MSRP: $24,200
2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid FWD
2.0-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
47 City / 47 Combined / 47 Highway 45 City / 43 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $25,200
2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid FWD
2.0-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
45 City / 45 Combined / 45 Highway
Starting MSRP: $35,925
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
1.4-liter, four cylinder, seven-speed automatic, Premium Unleaded Gasoline
42 City / 45 Combined / 48 Highway
Starting MSRP: $24,995
2013 Honda Civic Hybrid
1.5-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
44 City / 44 Combined / 44 Highway
Starting MSRP: $24,360
2013 Toyota Prius v
1.8-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
44 City / 42 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $26,650
2013 Lexus CT 200h
1.8-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
43 City / 42 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $32,050
2013 Honda Insight
1.3-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
41 City / 42 Combined / 44 Highway
Starting MSRP: $18,600
2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE
2.5-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
43 City / 41 Combined / 39 Highway
Starting MSRP: $26,140
2013 Lexus ES 300h
2.5-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
40 City / 40 Combined / 39 Highway
Starting MSRP: $39,250
2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
2.5-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
40 City / 40 Combined / 39 Highway
Starting MSRP: $35,555
2013 Acura ILX Hybrid
1.5-liter, four cylinder, seven-speed automatic, Premium Unleaded Gasoline
39 City / 38 Combined / 38 Highway
Starting MSRP: $28,900
2013 Kia Optima Hybrid
2.4-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
36 City / 38 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $25,900
2013 Honda CR-Z
1.5-liter, four cylinder, seven-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
36 City / 37 Combined / 39 Highway
Starting MSRP: $19,975
2013 Scion iQ
1.3-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
36 City / 37 Combined / 37 Highway
Starting MSRP: $15,495
2013 smart fortwo cabriolet
1.0 L, 3 cyl, five-speed automatic, Premium Unleaded Gasoline
34 City / 36 Combined / 38 Highway
Starting MSRP: $17,890
2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
31 City / 35 Combined / 43 Highway
Starting MSRP: $20,845
2013 Nissan Versa
1.6-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
31 City / 35 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $11,990
2013 Chevrolet Spark
1.2-liter, four cylinder, Manual five-speed, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
32 City / 34 Combined / 38 Highway
Starting MSRP: $12,185
2013 Fiat 500
1.4-liter, four cylinder, Manual five-speed, Premium Unleaded Gasoline
31 City / 34 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $16,000
2013 Audi A3 TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
30 City / 34 Combined / 42 Highway
Starting MSRP: $27,270
2013 Volkswagen Golf TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic or Manual six-speed, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
30 City / 34 Combined / 42 Highway
Starting MSRP: $24,495
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic or Manual six-speed, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
30 City / 34 Combined / 42 Highway
Starting MSRP: $23,055
2013 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
30 City / 34 Combined / 42 Highway
Starting MSRP: $25,795
2013 Nissan Sentra FE
1.8-liter, four cylinder, automatic (CVT), Regular Unleaded Gasoline
30 City / 34 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $16,990
2013 Toyota Yaris
1.5-liter, four cylinder, Manual five-speed, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
30 City / 33 Combined / 37 Highway
Starting MSRP: $14,370
2013 Honda Civic HF
1.8-liter, four cylinder, automatic five-speed, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
29 City / 33 Combined / 41 Highway
Starting MSRP: $19,765
2013 Chevrolet Sonic
1.4-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
29 City / 33 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $14,185
2013 Ford Fiesta SFE FWD
1.6-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
29 City / 33 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $15,935
2013 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
1.4-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
28 City / 33 Combined / 42 Highway
Starting MSRP: $19,680
2013 Ford Focus SFE FWD FFV
2.0-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline or E85
28 City / 33 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $16,200
2013 Mazda 3 Skyactiv-G 4-Door
2.0-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
28 City / 33 Combined / 40 Highway
Starting MSRP: $18,375
2013 Kia Rio Eco
1.6-liter, four cylinder, automatic six-speed, Regular Unleaded Gasoline
30 City / 32 Combined / 36 Highway
Starting MSRP: $
2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, six-speed automatic, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
29 City / 32 Combined / 39 Highway
Starting MSRP: $23,495
2013 MINI Cooper
1.6-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Premium Gasoline
29 City / 32 Combined / 37 Highway
Starting MSRP: $19,700
2013 MINI Cooper Coupe
1.6-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Premium Gasoline
29 City / 32 Combined / 37 Highway
Starting MSRP: $21,450
2013 Dodge Dart Aero
1.4-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Premium Gasoline
28 City / 32 Combined / 41 Highway
Starting MSRP: $19,295
2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible TDI
2.0-liter, four cylinder, Manual six-speed, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
28 City / 32 Combined / 41 Highway
Starting MSRP: $24,995
2013 Honda Civic
1.8 L, 4 cyl, automatic five-speed, Regular Gasoline
28 City / 32 Combined / 39 Highway
Starting MSRP: $17,965
– by Daniel Gray
I for one vote for the 2013 Audi A3 TDI. A friend of mine gave me the chance to test one .. you’ll fall in love with this car, trust me 🙂
I vote for 2013 Chevrolet Spark…it has great engine power..
This is a great list. It has something for almost every driver. There is great diversity in the style of vehicles as well as the price points, making this a list that almost anyone can use as a resource if they are in the market for a fuel efficient vehicle this year.
I just bought the 2013 Prius. It is a pretty good ride
Thanks for sharing this list. Incidentally I’m looking for a new car now and I`d choose one with low fuel consumption not mention that must fall within a fairly limited budget. This list is very useful for me in choosing the suitable car, I will vote for Audi A3 TDI, in my opinion AUDI is the best car brand
This would be a relatively easy choice for me. While the Audi A3 TDI is a very nice automobile, I’m just not a big diesel fan. That said, my choice would be the 2013 Mazda 3 Skyactiv-G 4-Door, a very balanced vehicle providing exceptional bang for the buck. Even though stops at the gas pumps will please most, the back roads are what will put a real smile on your face when driving one. A Hatchback would be frosting on the cake, albeit at perhaps a higher price.
G.
Of course ya could get a Tesla and skip the gas station alltogether.
CNG leaves the $/mile of hybrids in the dust ! Not to mention near zero emissions !