The government’s fueleconomy.gov site that carries information from the DOE and EPA about fuel economy named the 2012 Mitsubishi i and the extended-range Chevrolet Volt as the most efficient electric vehicle and as the most fuel efficient vehicle with a gasoline engine.
The federal fueleconomy.gov website has named its most fuel efficiency vehicles built between 1984 and the present.
Many of the most efficient models have gone out of the production — and even some hybrid models have been beaten by older non-hybrid models.
Among 2012 electric cars, the new 2012 Mitsubishi i leads the pack both for fuel-efficiency and cost, and ranks as the most fuel-efficient car of the year. The Nissan Leaf is second at 99 MPGe, the Ford Transit Connect Electric is third at 62, and the Chevrolet Volt ranks fourth at 60 MPGe.
EPA measures miles per gallon equivalent assuming 33.7 kwh equals the amount of energy in one gallon of gasoline.
Top Ten Fuel Economy: 2012 Model Year Vehicles, All Types
| Rank | Vehicle Model and Configuration | EPA Rating (mpge) | |||
| Combined | City | Highway | |||
| 1 | Mitsubishi i Electric car | 112 | 126 | 99 | |
| 2 | Nissan Leaf Electric car | 99 | 106 | 92 | |
| 3 | Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Van Electric vehicle | 62 | 62 | 62 | |
| Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Wagon Electric vehicle | |||||
| 4 | Chevrolet Volt Plug-in hybrid, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, auto (variable gear ratios), premium gasoline | 60** | 58 | 62 | |
| 5 | ToyotaPrius 4 cyl, 1.8L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 50 | 51 | 48 | |
| 6 | Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.5L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 44 | 44 | 44 | |
| 7 | ToyotaPrius v 4 cyl, 1.8L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 42 | 44 | 40 | |
| 8 | Lexus CT 200h 4 cyl, 1.8 L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 42 | 43 | 40 | |
| 9 | Honda Insight 4 cyl, 1.3 L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 42 | 41 | 44 | |
| Honda Insight 4 cyl, 1.3 L, automatic (AV-S7), regular gasoline | |||||
| 10 | Toyota Camry Hybrid LE 4 cyl, 2.5 L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 41 | 43 | 39 | |
Top Ten Fuel-Economy: All-Electric Vehicles, 1984 to Present
| Rank | Vehicle Model and Configuration | EPA Rating (mpge) | |||
| Combined | City | Highway | |||
| 1 | Mitsubishi i (2012) | 112 | 126 | 99 | |
| 2 | Nissan Leaf (2011–12) | 99 | 106 | 92 | |
| 3 | MINI Mini E (2008) | 98 | 102 | 94 | |
| 4 | smart fortwo electric drive cabriolet (2011) | 87 | 94 | 79 | |
| smart fortwo electric drive coupe (2011) | |||||
| 5 | Nissan Altra EV (2000) | 85 | 81 | 91 | |
| 6 | GMC EV1 (1999) | 85 | 79 | 84 | |
| 7 | Toyota RAV4 EV (2002–03) | 78 | 87 | 69 | |
| 8 | Nissan Hyper-Mini (2001) | 75 | 84 | 66 | |
| 9 | Ford Th!nk (2001) | 65 | 74 | 58 | |
| 10 | Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Wagon (2012) | 62 | 62 | 62 | |
| Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Van (2012) | |||||
Top Ten Fuel Economy: Vehicles with Internal Combustion Engines, 1984 to Present
| 1 | Chevrolet Volt (2011–12) Plug-in hybrid, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, auto (variable gear ratios), premium gasoline | 60 | 58 | 62 |
| 2 | Honda Insight (2000) 3 cyl, 1.0L, manual 5-speed, regular gasoline | 53 | 49 | 61 |
| 3 | ToyotaPrius (2010–12) 4 cyl, 1.8L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 50 | 51 | 48 |
| 4 | Chevrolet Sprint ER (1986) 3 cyl, 1.0L, manual 5-speed, regular gasoline | 48 | 44 | 53 |
| 5 | Geo Metro (1986) 3 cyl, 1.0L, manual 5-speed, regular gasoline | 47 | 43 | 52 |
| 6 | Honda Civic CRX HF (1986–87) 4 cyl, 1.5L, manual 5-speed, regular | 46 | 42 | 51 |
| 7 | Honda Civic Hybrid (2012) 4 cyl, 1.5L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| 8 | Honda Civic HB VX (1994–95) 4 cyl, 1.5L, manual 5-speed, regular gasoline | 43 | 39 | 50 |
| 9 | ToyotaPrius v (2012) 4 cyl, 1.8L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 42 | 44 | 40 |
| 10 | Lexus CT 200h (2011–12) 4 cyl, 1.8L, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gasoline | 42 | 43 | 40 |
