2003 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 2003 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 45 EPA-rated 2003 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Honda Civic Hybrid leads at about $1,134 a year (41 MPG), while the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is the most expensive to run at $3,703 (16 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,938 a year to fuel. The class includes 0 electric and 2 hybrid or plug-in models.

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. 1Honda Civic Hybrid41 MPG $1,134
  2. 2Toyota Prius41 MPG $1,134
  3. 3Honda Civic34 MPG $1,368
  4. 4Toyota Echo33 MPG $1,409
  5. 5Volkswagen Jetta Diesel39 MPG $1,423
  6. 6Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  7. 7Toyota Corolla31 MPG $1,500
  8. 8Honda Civic CNG28 MPGe $1,554
  9. 9Nissan Sentra28 MPG $1,661
  10. 10Hyundai Accent/Brio28 MPG $1,661
  11. 11Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.028 MPG $1,661
  12. 12Ford Focus27 MPG $1,722
  13. 13Kia Rio26 MPG $1,788
  14. 14Mitsubishi Lancer26 MPG $1,788
  15. 15Chevrolet Cavalier25 MPG $1,860

All 45 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Honda Civic Hybrid Hybrid 41 MPG — $1,134
2Toyota Prius Hybrid 41 MPG — $1,134
3Honda Civic Gas 34 MPG — $1,368
4Toyota Echo Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
5Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 39 MPG — $1,423
6Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
7Toyota Corolla Gas 31 MPG — $1,500
8Honda Civic CNG Natural gas 28 MPGe — $1,554
9Nissan Sentra Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
10Hyundai Accent/Brio Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
11Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
12Ford Focus Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
13Kia Rio Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
14Mitsubishi Lancer Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
15Chevrolet Cavalier Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
16Hyundai Elantra Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
17Pontiac Grand Am Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
18Pontiac Sunfire Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
19Oldsmobile Alero Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
20Suzuki Aerio Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
21Saturn Ion Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
22Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
23Volkswagen Jetta Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
24Toyota Camry Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
25Chrysler Sebring Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
26Dodge Stratus Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
27Daewoo Lanos Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
28Kia Spectra Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
29Mazda Protege/Protege 5 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
30Saab 9-3 Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
31Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
32Daewoo Nubira Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
33Infiniti G35 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
34Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
35Audi A4 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
36Volvo S60 Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
37BMW 5 Series Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
38Volvo S40 Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
39Acura CL Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
40Jaguar X-Type Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
41Jaguar XJ Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
42Lexus IS Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
43Infiniti M45 Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
44Jaguar XJR Gas 16 MPG — $3,703
45Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Gas 16 MPG — $3,703

More 2003 rankings

2003 class rankings

This ranking in other years