1996 rankings · Midsize Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1996 Midsize Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 31 EPA-rated 1996 midsize cars by what they cost to fuel. The Volkswagen Passat Diesel leads at about $1,586 a year (35 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Silver Spur/Silver Dawn is the most expensive to run at $4,938 (12 MPG). The median midsize car costs $2,214 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. 1Volkswagen Passat Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  2. 2Mazda 62626 MPG $1,788
  3. 3Dodge Stratus26 MPG $1,788
  4. 4Plymouth Breeze26 MPG $1,788
  5. 5Buick Century24 MPG $1,938
  6. 6Oldsmobile Ciera24 MPG $1,938
  7. 7Toyota Camry23 MPG $2,022
  8. 8Hyundai Sonata22 MPG $2,114
  9. 9Buick Regal21 MPG $2,214
  10. 10Buick Riviera21 MPG $2,214
  11. 11Ford Taurus21 MPG $2,214
  12. 12Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme21 MPG $2,214
  13. 13Pontiac Grand Prix21 MPG $2,214
  14. 14Volkswagen Passat21 MPG $2,214
  15. 15Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo21 MPG $2,214

All 31 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Volkswagen Passat Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
2Mazda 626 Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
3Dodge Stratus Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
4Plymouth Breeze Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
5Buick Century Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
6Oldsmobile Ciera Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
7Toyota Camry Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
8Hyundai Sonata Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
9Buick Regal Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
10Buick Riviera Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
11Ford Taurus Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
12Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
13Pontiac Grand Prix Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
14Volkswagen Passat Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
15Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
16Chrysler Cirrus Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
17Ford Thunderbird Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
18Mercury Cougar Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
19Nissan Maxima Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
20Volvo 850 Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
21Infiniti I30 Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
22Lexus LS Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
23Lincoln Mark Viii Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
24Acura RL Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
25Cadillac Eldorado Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
26Lexus GS Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
27Oldsmobile Aurora Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
28Infiniti Q45 Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
29Jaguar Vanden Plas Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
30Rolls-Royce Brooklands/Turbo R Gas 12 MPG — $4,938
31Rolls-Royce Silver Spur/Silver Dawn Gas 12 MPG — $4,938

More 1996 rankings

1996 class rankings

This ranking in other years