10 Of The Most Fuel-Efficient Chevrolets Ever Made

Chevrolet, an automaker synonymous with American car culture, has long been known for its iconic muscle cars and powerful engines — from the legendary Camaro to the roaring Corvette. However, the modern automotive landscape has transformed due to environmental consciousness and increasing fuel prices. To combat this, automakers, including Chevrolet, have had to respond by prioritizing innovative green technologies and fuel efficiency.

In the modern world, fuel-efficient vehicles put less strain on the wallet, reducing overall running costs. They also contribute to a cleaner environment, with every gallon saved translating to a smaller carbon footprint. Chevrolet's commitment to fuel efficiency is evident across its lineup. From modern family sedans like the Malibu to capable pickup trucks like the Silverado EV, Chevrolet offers a range of options with innovative technologies.

The lineup not only uses internal combustion engines, but also hybrid and electric technology to push the boundaries of efficiency altogether. Below, we explore some of the most fuel-efficient Chevrolets ever made, highlighting the innovative technologies that have led to their impressive fuel economy ratings.

The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic was a subcompact vehicle available as a hatchback or sedan. The Sonic , while the . For the 2018 model year, Chevrolet made a few changes to the Sonic, including adding an RS package, Sheffield seat trim for the RS package, and a new Ivy Metallic exterior color. As standard, the lineup used a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with . The engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission as standard on all sedans. However, only the LT hatchback had the manual as standard. Chevrolet also offered a six-speed automatic on some trims.

In the base configuration, the Sonic had an EPA fuel economy rating of . It also offered . Chevrolet also offered the Sonic with a more powerful 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It . Unlike the base powertrain, the turbocharged engine paired with a six-speed manual was standard on Premier trim and optional on LT trim. There was also an optional six-speed automatic available in some trims.

With the standard six-speed manual transmission, the Sonic sedan and hatchback models had the best fuel economy rating of . These models also had a 12.2-gallon fuel tank, which enabled them to offer up to .

When Chevrolet introduced the Metro, it was a low-cost vehicle available in two body styles: hatchback and sedan. While the Metro's design was similar to that of the Suzuki Swift, it had two powertrains: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder and a 1.3-liter four-cylinder. The base models used the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine . This engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission, powering the front wheels. Despite its humble performance figures, the base Metro was the most efficient model in the lineup with an EPA fuel economy rating of .

The 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine had more oomph, . The engine paired with either a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. With the five-speed manual, the Metro had a fuel economy rating of . The automatic transmission variants had the lowest fuel economy rating of . In addition to its powertrains, the Metro had a four-seat interior despite the hatchback only being available as a two-door. It also featured modern standard equipment like a remote trunk release, power locks, and power steering.

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze was a compact car, available as a sedan or hatchback. . For the 2019 model year, Chevrolet restyled the Cruze's front end, fitting it with new headlamps, fascia, and grille. At the rear, the Cruze also got revised taillamps with LED signature lighting on the higher trims. Additional improvements to the 2019 Cruze included new interior colors and an infotainment system.

As standard, the Cruze used a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with . This engine mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, powering the front wheels. The gasoline four-cylinder was the peppiest engine in the lineup, enabling the Cruze to . With this powertrain, the Cruze had an EPA fuel economy rating of .

Chevrolet also offered a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with for maximum efficiency. This powertrain paired with a nine-speed automatic, powering the front wheels. Unlike the gasoline four-cylinder engine, the turbodiesel had a better EPA fuel economy rating of . This helped give diesel Cruze models a better compared to in the gasoline-powered models.

The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-sized family sedan competing with variants like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. For the 2019 model year, Chevrolet slightly refreshed the Malibu, giving it a restyled front and rear. : L, LS, RS, LT, Hybrid, and Premier. As standard, the Malibu had a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with . The engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), powering the front wheels. In this configuration, the Malibu had a good EPA fuel economy rating of .

In addition, Chevrolet also offered a more potent 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with . This engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, powering the front wheels. While it was more powerful than the base powertrain, it had the lowest fuel economy rating of .

The Malibu Hybrid was the most efficient model on the lineup, boasting . This model paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce . These motors used an . The Malibu Hybrid had unique technology, including the Volt's regenerative braking system to recover energy when braking and Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery (EGHR) to keep the cabin and engine warm using exhaust heat.

Chevrolet's Silverado EV is a reimagined version of the ICE-powered Silverado full-size pickup truck. The 2024 Silverado EV uses GM's Ultium platform, helping deliver a blend of capability and performance, including a range of up to . Despite being less than the , the Silverado EV boasts more power from its dual motor powertrain. In the WT trim, the Silverado EV . While it's not the most powerful version in the Silverado EV lineup, the WT trim boasts a .

The Silverado RST EV is the most powerful variant, . This makes it the most powerful Silverado ever built, allowing it to with Wide Open Watts. The RST trim gets plenty of additional features, including an e4WD system, automatic adaptive air suspension, four-wheel steer, and Chevrolet's advanced trailering system. Unlike the ICE-powered counterparts, the Silverado EV is more efficient, boasting an EPA rating of .

To keep it juiced up, Chevrolet equips the Silverado EV . The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV also gets Level 1 120-volt and Level 2 240-volt home charging solutions, allowing owners to conveniently recharge the truck from the comfort of their homes.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV is a mid-size electric SUV that helps expand the brand's EV portfolio. It has a : LT, RS, and SS. For the 2024 model year, the Blazer EV rivals other electric SUVs like the Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model Y, and Kia EV9. As standard, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV uses a dual motor powertrain to power the front and rear axles. These motors produce .

Chevrolet also offers a single-motor powertrain in the RS trim, which only powers the rear axle. Despite having a single motor, this powertrain boasts . The RS RWD version also gets a in the base LT and RS AWD models. Thanks to the larger battery pack, the Blazer EV RS RWD model has a compared to the . However, despite having more range, the Blazer EV RS RWD gets an EPA rating of . That's slightly lower than the Blazer EV AWD models, which boast .

As for the Blazer EV SS trim, it's the most powerful variant in the lineup, boasting . While Chevrolet has yet to disclose its pricing, the SS trim can with Wide Open Watts.

The 2019 Chevrolet Volt was a compact plug-in hybrid with a : LT and Premier. For the 2019 model year, Chevrolet added features like a 7.2 kilowatts charging system, a new infotainment system, decorative seating patterns on cloth seats, and new exterior colors. One of the most attractive features of the Chevrolet Volt was its plug-in hybrid powertrain, which paired an Ecotec 1.5-liter engine with a Voltec electric drive system to . The electric system used an 18.4 kWh battery pack, which could . However, .

With this powertrain, the Volt could . The powertrain also had a great . On its own, the gasoline engine could offer . To increase efficiency, Chevrolet equipped the Volt with a Regen on Demand feature, allowing the driver to control energy regeneration through a steering wheel-mounted paddle. In addition to its efficiency, the Volt had an accommodating cabin with modern equipment like heated rear outboard seats, wireless charging, a Bose premium audio system, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Chevrolet's 2024 Equinox EV is an all-new model aimed at ushering buyers into the Chevrolet EV world. The Equinox has a : 1LT, 2LT, 2RS, 3LT, and 3RS. As standard, the Equinox EV has a single electric motor that powers the front axle. This motor produces . While it's not as powerful as the Tesla Model Y, the compared to the . In addition, this powertrain delivers the best fuel economy rating of .

Chevrolet also offers a more potent dual-motor powertrain that powers the front and rear axles. The powertrain produces , enabling the Equinox EV to . The dual motor powertrain isn't as efficient as the base offering, managing an EPA fuel economy rating of . In this configuration, , still outcompeting the . Furthermore, Chevrolet equips the Equinox EV with the latest charging technology, which includes 11.5-kilowatt Level 2 charging as standard, two-kilowatt Level 2 charging, and DC fast charging of up to 150 kilowatts.

The 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV was an electric minicar that promised easy ownership and emissions-free driving. It rivaled other green and energy-efficient cars like the Ford Focus EV, Honda Fit EV, and Nissan Leaf. Unlike these rivals, the Spark had a lower before any state and federal tax credits. The Chevrolet Spark EV had a single electric motor powering the front wheels. The motor . This electric powertrain made the Spark EV capable and efficient, getting a great EPA rating of .

In addition to the electric motor, the Spark EV had an enhanced design to reduce drag while guiding air around the vehicle. The changes made to its aerodynamics included tire air deflectors, underbody panels, a closed upper grille, an active shutter system, low rolling resistance tires, and a roof-extending rear spoiler. These enhancements gave the Spark EV a . Chevrolet also equipped the Spark EV with : Normal and Sport. Normal mode was the default mode and it helped maximize the Spark EV's efficiency.

On the other hand, Sport mode offered a sportier driving experience, giving the driver more responsive acceleration. Like most modern EVs, the Spark EV had different charging options: . With the standard 120-volt charger, the Spark EV could . Fortunately, DC fast charging could .

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is an affordable all-electric car, available as a hatchback or SUV (Bolt EUV). For the 2023 model year, : 1LT and 2LT. Thanks to its lower starting price, the Bolt EV outcompetes small rivals like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Tesla Model 3. Chevrolet pairs the Bolt EV with an electric motor powering the front wheels. The motor , helping the Bolt EV . The Bolt EV also has an advanced 65 kWh battery pack and an 11.5 kilowatts onboard charging module, allowing it to .

Chevrolet's electric powertrain helps make the Bolt EV competitive, giving it and an EPA economy rating of . In addition to its efficiency, the Bolt EV has additional technologies like Regen on Demand and one-pedal driving, which help regenerate and restore energy in the battery pack. The Bolt EV also gets a Sports Mode button, which boosts the acceleration's responsiveness and provides a more engaging driving experience.