10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars You Can Buy In 2026: Non-EV Edition

In an automotive landscape, which is all about zero emissions and the transition to electric cars these days, traditional fuel economy can often get lost in the mess of it all. But for many of us, only ane old-school ICE vehicle will do, whether that means it having a little bit of hybrid assistance, or being solely powered by a combustion engine. The Kia Soul and Toyota Prius are good examples of each, respectively. Knowing what the most fuel efficient cars are is, therefore, essential if you want your car to have the smallest possible impact on the environment, or your wallet.

This is why, in this list, we will be ranking what we have determined are the top five most fuel efficient pure-gas cars, as well as the five self-charging, non-plug-in hybrid cars with the best gas mileage. We cover cars with several different body styles from a range of different price points, so there is bound to be something here for all resource-conscious buyers looking to limit the price at the pumps.

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Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Non-Hybrid Cars For 2026

2026 Volkswagen Jetta

If you want an affordable sedan with a German badge and the solid quality that comes with that, the Volkswagen Jetta is for you. It is also the car for you if fuel efficiency is what you crave, as the Jetta can achieve 34 mpg on the combined cycle as well as 29/40 mpg in the city/highway cycles. This is all thanks to its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and its automatic transmission, which has an impressive eight gears. You can still get the Jetta with a six-speed manual if you opt for the GLI trim, but the automatic version will always get the best mpg. The rest of the car is tuned to be comfy and quiet, and there is an impressive array of standard equipment too, including adaptive cruise control and smartphone mirroring.

2025 Nissan Versa

After the demise of its fellow low-cost efficiency hero, the Mitsubishi Mirage, the Nissan versa now stands alone as the only car being offered for sale in the United States for under $20k. The versa has always been one of the better economy vehicles, however, thanks not only to the 35 miles it can do on a single gallon of fuel, but also thanks to its comfort and ample interior space both for passengers and for luggage. It is also perfectly easy and straightforward to drive, even if its 1.6 liter 122hp engine is not the most inspiring out there. It might also be worth spending over 20k to get the CVT for the best possible fuel efficiency and having a look at the higher up trim levels for more generous standard equipment.

2026 Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is available as either a hatchback or a sedan, and we haven’t specified which is the best gas mileage car, as the fact is, both body styles can achieve 35 mpg combined. Whichever body style you go for, you will be getting one of the most popular and enduring everyday workhorse cars there has ever been. Powering it is a 2.0-liter Dynamic Force engine that develops a healthy 169 hp and drives the front wheels only through a continuously variable transmission. Speaking of wheels, it might be a good idea to choose a trim that doesn’t have the larger 18-inch wheels, as smaller wheels help maximize fuel efficiency, even if trims like the XSE offer more leather and gizmos.

2026 Hyundai Elantra

Like the Toyota Corolla, the Hyundai Elantra is also available as a hybrid, but it is the pure ICE version we are focusing on here. The fuel economy that even the non-hybrid Elantra achieves is fairly impressive, with 32/41/36 mpg in the city/highway/combined cycles. While the turbocharged Elantra N-line might be the more inspiring option to drive thanks to its extra power, it is the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder power unit that achieves the Honda Civic-rivalling fuel efficiency here. The smooth lines on the exterior will also help the car slip through the air without too much drag. The interior is also surprisingly upscale for a car that only costs in the low 20s to buy and while this obviously doesn’t help its mpg, it does make it more desirable.

2026 Honda Civic Sedan

While there is both a sedan and hatchback version of the Honda Civic like there is with the Corolla, we are only interested in the version of each car that can achieve the absolute maximum miles per gallon here. That is why we are only looking at the Honda Civic Sedan, as the EPA fuel economy for the sedan is better than that of the hatchback, achieving 32/41/36 mpg across the city/highway/ombined cycles compared to 30/38/34 mpg for the hatch. Being one of the most gas-efficient ICE cars money can buy is not the only thing the Civic has going for it either, as with its smooth drive, ample safety features and brilliant practicality, the Civic is a car that simply does everything well.

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Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Cars For 2026

2026 Toyota Camry

Moving on to the hybrids, we don’t need to refer to this car as the Toyota Camry Hybrid anymore, as for 2026, it is being offered exclusively as a hybrid. The rest of the car is as you would expect from a Toyota Camry, meaning it is a large, spacious sedan with world-beating reliability. However, the hybrid system with its electric motors allows you to go even further before you have to hit the pumps. The engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and it comes paired with two electric motors, producing a combined 225 hp that is sent to the front wheels via a CVT. There is also an all-wheel-drive version that adds a third electric motor and ups the power to 232 hp, though this slightly lowers the max fuel efficient down to 50 mpg combined.

2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue

The Hyundai Sonata has always been a stylish option in the world of affordable midsize sedans, and the current one is no different to this. It has been looking particularly smart this past year after an update to its exterior styling with its sleek front end, while the interior now features one glass panel with two large screens. The Blue is the most efficient version of the Sonata Hybrid as it has a slightly lower drag, and is less feature-laden, meaning its EPA miles per gallon rating is on par with that of the Camry. The Sonata is not the fastest or most fun to drive car in its segment by any means, but its style and comfort could make up for this if that matters to you.

2026 Kia Niro Hybrid

If we were to make a list of just the most efficient hybrid SUVs, the traditional hybrid version of the Kia Niro would probably be at the top, so the fact that it is third in the overall list of the best mpg hybrid cars shows just how much of an efficiency hero it is. The Niro Hybrid incorporates a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor to drive the front wheels, with a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission responsible for swapping the cogs. With a combined power output of 139 hp, the 0–60 mph time is rather plodding at nearly nine seconds. Despite crossovers sometimes being criticized for not being the most spacious cars out there, there is sufficient cargo and passenger room in this one.

2026 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue

This is, of course, the self-charging hybrid version of the Hyundai Elantra, which we have discussed already. However, the two are not dramatically different to each other. The Elantra Hybrid stands out from other rivals thanks to its recent styling updates, similar to those of the Sonata. The powertrain is the only major difference between the gas Elantra and the hybrid version, because, as well as the addition of an electric motor, the engine is different, having a 1.6-liter instead of a 2.0-liter capacity. While it is down on power compared to the gas Elantra with just 139 hp, the hybrid does have more torque, at 195 lb-ft. The fact that it has a proper dual-clutch automatic transmission instead of a CVT might help this car’s case over that of, say, the Camry, as it will prevent the engine from being too whiny.

2026 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius needs no introduction, as it is the original hybrid. Now in its fifth generation, the Prius might not be nearly as revolutionary as the original version was, but it somehow appropriately manages to be the most efficient traditional hybrid money can buy. It does this by some margin as well, as it is capable of achieving 57 mpg combined compared with the Elantra hybrid’s perfectly respectable 54 mpg. The fantastically chiseled styling, along with the surprising amount of shove on offer from the powertrain, make the Prius a very appealing car to buy overall, so long as you don’t mind it if your friends think you’ve become an Uber driver…

Sources: Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, EPA