The 15 Most Fuel Efficient Cars You Can Buy In 2023

Cars serve a number of purposes. Some people like vehicles that can transport a large number of items. Others like something that can haul heavy things like trailers. Then there is the off-road crowd and the petrol heads that just crave raw speed. However, if you want something the majority of people look for in a vehicle, you have to think of fuel economy. Gas is still pretty expensive, and with other costs rising, too, saving a few dollars at the pump can make a huge difference. To make things easier, we've gathered a list of the most economical cars on the market this year. It is worth noting that the rankings are based on EPA estimates, and your actual fuel economy depends on many things including your driving style.

Unlike last year, every single car on this list is a hybrid. This may reflect the changing times and the direction the automotive industry has been heading in for a while. We've hit a point where even ultra-compact vehicles with tiny, efficient engines just can't compete with hybrids when it comes to fuel economy. But like last year, we've decided to leave both electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids out. Electric vehicles don't require fuel, and if your day involves nothing but short trips, you could in theory get unlimited miles per gallon from a plug-in. Some of the cars on our list may have a plug-in hybrid version, but we're judging them on their regular hybrid versions.

The 14th — or more accurately said the joint-11th — most fuel-efficient car of the year is the 2023 Toyota Venza AWD. The original Venza disappeared around 2015, but the model was revived as a new line of Toyota hybrids back in 2021. These days it's essentially just a fancier version of Toyota's other hybrid SUV, the RAV 4. Prices start at $34,120 (via Toyota), which puts the Venza firmly into the mid-range category. 

For your money, Toyota promises "an uncompromising drive that brings style and tech to the next level." Three trims are available: the standard "LE" model, the "limited" model, and the "Nightshade Edition." However, no matter which edition you opt for, you're getting the same deal under the hood.

All three vehicles have an output of 118 horsepower at the front and 54 at the rear, combining for a total of 172 horsepower. The fuel economy also remains the same. You can expect 40 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway for an average of 39 mpg combined (via EPA). The "premium interior" has room for five passengers most of the time. The 60/40 rear seats mean that number might drop to four, three, or two depending on how many of the rear seats you choose to fold down when transporting something.

The Ford Escape featured on last year's list and crops up on this one in exactly the same position; the fuel economy may be slightly worse than last year's model, though. While Ford has yet to put fuel economy measurements on its website, the EPA claims that the 2023 Ford Escape FWD HEV will average 39 mpg. That's 42 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, according to the agency. Last year's model was capable of 27 mpg on a highway and an average of 44 mpg while driving through cities.

EPA estimates can occasionally change, but it does seem like the truly fuel-conscious amongst us may be better off with the 2022 edition — especially if you do a significant amount of your driving in metropolitan areas. If we were to dump the 2022 model in this list, it would be a clear 12th and not share the honors with the Lexus NX 350h and Toyota Venza. You could also argue that the other two in 12th place are better options, offering the same miles per gallon while also being AWD. 

AWD is available on the Ford Escape, but it's an optional extra. While there might be a slight difference in MPG, there is an opportunity to save thousands of dollars on the lot. The 2023 Ford Escape is significantly cheaper than its rivals, starting from $27,500. If your heart is set on a 2023 Escape but you really want to make your gas go further, a plug-in version is also available.

In joint 10th place is another SUV, which demonstrates a few things: not only is there an impressive variety of hybrids these days, but there is also variety in that variety. If you want all the benefits of an SUV without worrying about bankrupting yourself every time you pull up to a gas station, there are a lot of options. One of those is the hybrid version of Honda's long-running CRV range. The 2023 version actually received some pretty big updates, alongside some useful throwbacks. 

The tech in the vehicle has been brought up to scratch, with things like Android Auto, Apple Car Play, and a nice touchscreen display to control it all making an appearance. There are also plenty of switches and knobs on offer if you prefer your controls to be a touch more old-school. Another old-school feature is the fact you can actually see out of the vehicle. Visibility wasn't great while driving CRVs for a while, but that's been fixed this year.

Under the hood, you have a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that's been turbocharged. Between that and the motor, you get around 204 horsepower, which is distributed evenly between the front and rear axles. The CRV can also produce 247 pound-foot of torque, which means you can tow a reasonable amount of things with it. In terms of fuel economy, the EPA says the Honda CRV Hybrid will get 43 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway for a combined average of 40 mpg.

The Lexus UX 250h is on the list again, but in a much-improved position after placing 13th last year. Lexus' hybrid SUV has broken into the top 10 after its fuel economy improved by an impressive 5%. As well as being more economical, it's also a fair bit cheaper than Lexus' other entry into this list. The front-wheel drive version of the UX 250h starts at $35,925, with an AWD version available for around $1,400 more. 

According to Lexus, the combined 42 mpg that the FWD version of the UX 250h is estimated at is the current "best in class." Of course, terms like best in class have to be taken with a pinch of salt — it's certainly not the last SUV on this list. The company's website claims that it is the best in class if you exclude plug-in hybrid SUVs, but we've done that too and the UX 250h is nowhere near. A bit of careful reading reveals that the class in question is "Luxury SUVs," which seems open to interpretation. The company also last checked the EPA's estimates last June.

Still, 42 mpg is nothing to be sniffed at, and that breaks down to 43 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. Another "class-leading" feature of the 2023 Lexus UX 250h is its turning circle. The car's turning radius is just 17.1 feet, which makes it an ideal choice for city driving when you consider the better mileage hybrids get in metropolitan environments.

Lexus' hybrid sedan grabs the number six spot on our list, with an average fuel economy of 44 mpg. That's broken down into 44 mpg on the highway, and 43 in the city. The ES 300h starts at $43,690, but opting for a few optional extras will quickly pump that up. The "Luxury," "Ultra Luxury," and Sport editions are also significantly more expensive. The Lexus ES boasts a new interface that is central to what the company describes as "the most advanced ES yet." 

Lexus says its new interface "provides seamless hands-free access to next-generation features like available Mark Levinson PurePlay Surround Sound with Clari-Fi." There are also features like a voice assistant, HUD, and wireless charging — along with things you'd expect like Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The Japanese company has dropped a fairly powerful 3.5-liter V6 into the F-Sport version of the vehicle, but if you're really concerned about fuel economy you should stick to the standard trim with its less demanding 2.5-liter inline-four.

Like its cousin the Corolla, the Camry is no stranger to our fuel economy top 15. Unlike the Corolla, the Camry has a much-improved showing this year, leaping three spots to take joint third spot from its more popular relative. Despite gaining a couple of places in the top 15, the Camry hasn't really shown any advancement in fuel economy terms. The 2023 Camry still offers the same combined 52 mpg the 2022 model offered. That number is again split between 51 mpg on the highway and a marginally more efficient 53 mpg in the city. 

As well as being one of the most economical options on this list, the Toyota Camry is also the cheapest. The hybrid version of the sedan, which is the economical one if you haven't guessed, starts at $28,355. Another thing the 2023 Camry has in common with its predecessor is the fact the cheapest trim also gets the best mileage; SE and Nightshade editions are also available, costing $29,890 and $38,890, respectively. An XLE edition is also on sale for $33,245, while the XSE starts at $33,795. Only the basic trim has the sort of economy needed to grab the fourth spot on this list, with all other versions averaging 44 mpg on the highway and 47 in the city.

It may have only just finished second, but the 2023 Kia Niro FE scoops the prize for the most surprising vehicle on the list. At an average of 53 mpg, the South Korean manufacturer has managed to create the most fuel-efficient EV on the market. You can get 53 mpg in the city, and 54 on the highway with several of the Niro's trims. Better still, the crossover starts from just $26,590, making it amazingly cheap for what it is. The base model also produces 139 horsepower, which isn't a lot. But looking at other hybrids in general, never mind SUVs, and the fact it only has a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine — it could be worse. There are also a lot of comfort features and driver aids, especially considering the price.

If you want something a bit flashier than the standard edition, it's worth pointing out that the touring version of the Niro would have placed sixth on this list had it been included. It was only emitted because, as with a few other vehicles, we didn't want to differentiate between trims. If you like the idea of a hybrid SUV, and you also want something cheaper than pretty much all other hybrid SUVs, you should really consider Kia's Niro range.