1994 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1994 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 42 EPA-rated 1994 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Ford Escort leads at about $1,603 a year (29 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Corniche/Continental is the most expensive to run at $5,386 (11 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,980 a year to fuel.

Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles a year at $3.10/gal regular, $3.95/gal premium and 18¢/kWh. Each model is shown in its most efficient configuration.

Top 15

Annual fuel cost (lower is better)
  1. 1Ford Escort29 MPG $1,603
  2. 2Mercury Tracer29 MPG $1,603
  3. 3Mazda 32328 MPG $1,661
  4. 4Saturn SL28 MPG $1,661
  5. 5Geo Prizm27 MPG $1,722
  6. 6Hyundai Precis27 MPG $1,722
  7. 7Mazda Protege27 MPG $1,722
  8. 8Toyota Corolla26 MPG $1,788
  9. 9Kia Sephia26 MPG $1,788
  10. 10Honda Accord25 MPG $1,860
  11. 11Chevrolet Beretta25 MPG $1,860
  12. 12Dodge Shadow25 MPG $1,860
  13. 13Plymouth Sundance/Duster25 MPG $1,860
  14. 14Volkswagen Golf/GTI24 MPG $1,938
  15. 15Chevrolet Corsica24 MPG $1,938

All 42 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Ford Escort Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
2Mercury Tracer Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
3Mazda 323 Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
4Saturn SL Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
5Geo Prizm Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
6Hyundai Precis Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
7Mazda Protege Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
8Toyota Corolla Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
9Kia Sephia Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
10Honda Accord Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
11Chevrolet Beretta Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
12Dodge Shadow Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
13Plymouth Sundance/Duster Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
14Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
15Chevrolet Corsica Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
16Nissan Altima / Stanza Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
17Ford Tempo Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
18Infiniti G20 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
19Mercury Topaz Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
20Oldsmobile Achieva Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
21Pontiac Grand Am Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
22Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
23Volkswagen Jetta Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
24Buick Skylark Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
25Mitsubishi Galant Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
26Chrysler LeBaron Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
27Hyundai Elantra Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
28Audi 100 Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
29Volkswagen Passat Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
30Audi S4 Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
31Lexus ES Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
32Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
33BMW 5 Series Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
34Audi 80/90 Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
35Acura Vigor Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
36Mitsubishi Diamante Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
37Mercedes-Benz E-Class Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
38Acura Legend Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
39Alfa Romeo 164 Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
40Jaguar XJ Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
41Audi V8 Gas 15 MPG — $3,950
42Rolls-Royce Corniche/Continental Gas 11 MPG — $5,386

More 1994 rankings

1994 class rankings

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