2026 rankings · Compact Cars
Most Fuel-Efficient 2026 Compact Cars, Ranked
We ranked all 21 EPA-rated 2026 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV leads at about $729 a year (126 MPGe), while the Toyota Mirai is the most expensive to run at $7,500 (72 MPGe). The median compact car costs $1,368 a year to fuel. The class includes 7 electric and 5 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)All 21 models
| # | Model | Type | Combined | Range | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV | Electric | 126 MPGe | 374 mi | $729 |
| 2 | BMW i4 | Electric | 118 MPGe | 333 mi | $769 |
| 3 | BMW i5 | Electric | 110 MPGe | 310 mi | $826 |
| 4 | Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Hybrid | 50 MPG | — | $930 |
| 5 | Porsche Taycan | Electric | 93 MPGe | 315 mi | $977 |
| 6 | Audi S e-tron | Electric | 90 MPGe | 300 mi | $1,015 |
| 7 | Lexus UX Hybrid | Hybrid | 43 MPG | — | $1,081 |
| 8 | Audi RS e-tron | Electric | 84 MPGe | 278 mi | $1,085 |
| 9 | Rolls-Royce Spectre | Electric | 77 MPGe | 277 mi | $1,177 |
| 10 | Toyota Corolla | Gas | 35 MPG | — | $1,329 |
| 11 | Volkswagen Jetta | Gas | 34 MPG | — | $1,368 |
| 12 | Volkswagen GLI | Gas | 29 MPG | — | $1,603 |
| 13 | BMW 3 Series Hybrid | Hybrid | 31 MPG | — | $1,911 |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 30 MPG | — | $1,975 |
| 15 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 29 MPG | — | $2,043 |
| 16 | Cadillac CT4 | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $2,279 |
| 17 | Genesis G70 | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $2,469 |
| 18 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,576 |
| 19 | Lexus IS | Gas | 22 MPG | — | $2,693 |
| 20 | Ferrari Purosangue | Gas | 12 MPG | — | $4,938 |
| 21 | Toyota Mirai | Fuel cell | 72 MPGe | 402 mi | $7,500 |