2016 head-to-head · Two-Seater
2016 Mazda MX-5 vs smart fortwo EV
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
RWD · Electric motor (55 kW) · Single-speed · 107 MPGe · 68 mi
The 2016 smart fortwo EV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $850 a year to fuel (107 MPGe), versus $1,975 for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 (30 MPG). That's roughly $1,125 a year, or about $5,623 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Mazda MX-5
- smart fortwo EV
Side by side
| Mazda MX-5 | smart fortwo EV | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,975 | Your annual fuel cost | $850 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 107 MPGe |
| 27 MPG | City | 122 MPGe |
| 34 MPG | Highway | 93 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 31.5 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 68 mi |
| 303 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 6 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Electric |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | Electric motor (55 kW) |
| 6-speed manual | Transmission | Single-speed |
| RWD | Drivetrain | RWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Mazda MX-5 vs smart fortwo EV across model years
- Mazda MX-5
- smart fortwo EV
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 32 2016 two-seaters, the Mazda MX-5 ranks 5th and the smart fortwo EV 1st for lowest fuel cost.
Because the smart fortwo EV is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Mazda MX-5; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 or the 2016 smart fortwo EV?
Measured by cost to drive, the smart fortwo EV. The Mazda MX-5 is rated 30 MPG combined and the smart fortwo EV 107 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Mazda MX-5 vs. the smart fortwo EV per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,975 for the Mazda MX-5 and $850 for the smart fortwo EV.
Mazda MX-5 vs smart fortwo EV in other years
More 2016 comparisons
Mazda MX-5 vs…
Or compare the 2016 Mazda MX-5 with anything else: