The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2012

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 2012 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 2012 with information on each of them!

How to Determine Fuel Efficiency

The list of the best fuel efficient cars on this page is based on one simple metric provided to us by the U.S. Department of Energy: the combined miles per gallon (MPG).

This metric is calculated by taking the total miles driven by the car and dividing it by the total gallons of fuel used.

Manufacturers provide this information to the Department of Energy, they provide it to us, and we provide it to you after sifting and organizing it.

The combined miles per gallon (MPG) is a measure of how much fuel the car uses per mile and is a good indicator of how efficient the car is. It's a combination of both city and highway driving, to give you a more overall accurate MPG.

With that out of the way, let's dive into the list. You can click the links in the table below to see more detailed information about each car.

Best 2012 Cars by Miles per Gallon

The list below is sorted by the combined miles per gallon (MPG) of the car, with the highest MPG at the top. This list includes both electric and regular fuel cars.

Car Combined MPG Fuel Cost
Mitsubishi i-MiEV 112 $600
Ford Focus Electric 105 $600
Nissan Leaf 99 $650
Tesla Model S 89 $750
Toyota RAV4 EV 76 $850
CODA Automotive CODA 73 $900
Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric Van 62 $1,050
Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric Wagon 62 $1,050
BYD e6 62 $1,050
Toyota Prius c 50 $1,250
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 50 $1,250
Toyota Prius 48 $1,300
Honda Civic Hybrid 44 $1,400
Lexus CT 200h 42 $1,500
Honda Insight 41 $1,550
Honda Insight 41 $1,550
Toyota Prius v 41 $1,550
Toyota Camry Hybrid LE 40 $1,550
Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE 39 $1,600
Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD 38 $1,650
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid FWD 38 $1,650
Chevrolet Volt 37 $2,000
Scion iQ 37 $1,700
Honda CR-Z 36 $1,750
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 36 $1,750
Kia Optima Hybrid 36 $1,750
smart fortwo cabriolet 36 $2,050
smart fortwo coupe 36 $2,050
Honda CR-Z 34 $1,850
Lexus HS 250h 34 $1,850
Volkswagen Passat 34 $2,250
Nissan Versa 33 $1,900
Toyota Yaris 33 $1,900
Audi A3 32 $2,400
Chevrolet Cruze Eco 32 $1,950
Chevrolet Sonic 32 $1,950
Chevrolet Sonic 5 32 $1,950
Fiat 500 32 $2,300
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 32 $1,950
Ford Fiesta FWD 32 $1,950
Ford Fiesta FWD 32 $1,950
Ford Fiesta SFE FWD 32 $1,950
Ford Focus SFE FWD 32 $1,950
Ford Focus SFE FWD FFV 32 $1,950
Honda Civic HF 32 $1,950
Hyundai Accent 32 $1,950
Hyundai Elantra 32 $1,950
Hyundai Elantra 32 $1,950
Kia Rio 32 $1,950
Mazda 3 DI 4-Door 32 $1,950
MINI Cooper 32 $2,300
MINI Cooper Coupe 32 $2,300
Volkswagen Golf 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Golf 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 32 $2,400
Ford Focus FWD 31 $2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV 31 $2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV 31 $2,000
Honda Civic 31 $2,000
Honda Civic 31 $2,000
Honda Civic Natural Gas 31 $1,150
Honda Fit 31 $2,000
Hyundai Accent 31 $2,000
Hyundai Veloster 31 $2,000
Kia Rio 31 $2,000
Mazda 2 31 $2,000
Mazda 3 DI 5-Door 31 $2,000
Toyota Yaris 31 $2,000
Chevrolet Cruze 30 $2,100
Chevrolet Cruze 30 $2,100
Chevrolet Cruze Eco 30 $2,100
Chevrolet Sonic 30 $2,100
Chevrolet Sonic 5 30 $2,100
Fiat 500 Abarth 30 $2,450
Ford Focus FWD 30 $2,100
Honda Fit 30 $2,100
Hyundai Veloster 30 $2,100
Kia Forte Eco 30 $2,100
Mazda 2 30 $2,100
Mazda 3 DI 4-Door 30 $2,100
Mazda 3 DI 5-Door 30 $2,100
MINI Cooper 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Clubman 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Clubman 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Convertible 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Convertible 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Countryman 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Coupe 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Roadster 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper Roadster 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper S 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper S Clubman 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper S Convertible 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper S Coupe 30 $2,450
MINI Cooper S Roadster 30 $2,450
Nissan Versa 30 $2,100
Nissan Versa 30 $2,100

Best 2012 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 2012 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

Car Combined MPG Fuel Cost
Volkswagen Passat (Automatic (S6)) 34 $2,250
Audi A3 (Automatic (S6)) 32 $2,400
Ford Focus SFE FWD FFV (Automatic (AM6)) 32 $1,950
Volkswagen Golf (Automatic (S6)) 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Golf (Manual 6-spd) 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta (Automatic (S6)) 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 6-spd) 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (Automatic (S6)) 32 $2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (Manual 6-spd) 32 $2,400
Ford Focus FWD FFV (Automatic (AM-S6)) 31 $2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV (Automatic (AM6)) 31 $2,000
Honda Civic Natural Gas (Automatic 5-spd) 31 $1,150
Ford Focus FWD FFV (Manual 5-spd) 29 $2,150
Chevrolet Equinox FWD (Automatic 6-spd) 26 $2,400
Chevrolet Malibu (Automatic (S6)) 26 $2,400
GMC Terrain FWD (Automatic 6-spd) 26 $2,400
Buick Regal (Manual 6-spd) 24 $2,600
Buick Verano (Automatic (S6)) 24 $2,600
Saab 9-3 Convertible (Manual 6-spd) 24 $2,600
Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan (Manual 6-spd) 24 $2,600
Saab 9-3 SportCombi (Manual 6-spd) 24 $2,600
Saab 9-5 Sedan (Manual 6-spd) 24 $2,600
Buick Regal (Automatic (S6)) 23 $2,700
Chevrolet Equinox AWD (Automatic 6-spd) 23 $2,700
Chrysler 300 (Automatic 8-spd) 23 $2,700
Dodge Charger (Automatic 8-spd) 23 $2,700
Ford Fusion FWD FFV (Automatic (S6)) 23 $2,700
GMC Terrain AWD (Automatic 6-spd) 23 $2,700
Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe (Automatic 7-spd) 23 $3,200
Buick Regal (Automatic (S6)) 22 $2,850
Chevrolet Impala (Automatic 6-spd) 22 $2,850
Chrysler 200 (Automatic 6-spd) 22 $2,850
Chrysler 200 Convertible (Automatic 6-spd) 22 $2,850
Dodge Avenger (Automatic 6-spd) 22 $2,850
Mercedes-Benz C350 (Automatic 7-spd) 22 $3,350
Mercedes-Benz E350 4matic Coupe (Automatic 7-spd) 22 $3,350
Mercedes-Benz E350 Convertible (Automatic 7-spd) 22 $3,350
Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan (Automatic (S6)) 22 $2,850
Volkswagen Touareg (Automatic (S8)) 22 $3,500
BMW X5 xDrive35d (Automatic (S6)) 21 $3,650
Buick LaCrosse (Automatic (S6)) 21 $3,000
Chrysler 300 AWD (Automatic 8-spd) 21 $3,000
Dodge Charger AWD (Automatic 8-spd) 21 $3,000
Ford Escape FWD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 21 $3,000
Saab 9-3 Convertible (Automatic (S6)) 21 $3,000
Saab 9-3 SportCombi (Automatic (S6)) 21 $3,000
Saab 9-5 Sedan (Automatic (S6)) 21 $3,000
Audi Q7 (Automatic (S8)) 20 $3,850
Buick LaCrosse AWD (Automatic (S6)) 20 $3,150
Chevrolet Equinox FWD (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Chrysler Town and Country (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Dodge Grand Caravan (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Dodge Journey FWD (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Ford Escape AWD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Ford Fusion AWD FFV (Automatic (S6)) 20 $3,150
GMC Terrain FWD (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Mercedes-Benz C300 4matic (Automatic 7-spd) 20 $3,700
Mercedes-Benz ML350 4matic (Automatic 7-spd) 20 $3,700
Ram C/V Cargo Van (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Volkswagen Routan (Automatic 6-spd) 20 $3,150
Cadillac SRX 2WD (Automatic (S6)) 19 $3,300
Chevrolet Equinox AWD (Automatic 6-spd) 19 $3,300
Dodge Durango 2WD (Automatic 5-spd) 19 $3,300
Dodge Durango 4WD (Automatic 5-spd) 19 $3,300
Ford F150 Pickup 2WD FFV (Automatic (S6)) 19 $3,300
Ford F150 Pickup 2WD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 19 $3,300
GMC Terrain AWD (Automatic 6-spd) 19 $3,300
Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD (Automatic 5-spd) 19 $3,300
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD (Automatic 5-spd) 19 $3,300
Cadillac SRX AWD (Automatic (S6)) 18 $3,500
Chevrolet Silverado C15 XFE 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 18 $3,500
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD FFV (Automatic (S6)) 18 $3,500
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 18 $3,500
GMC Sierra C15 XFE 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 18 $3,500
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Silverado C15 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Silverado K15 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Tahoe 1500 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Chevrolet Tahoe 1500 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Ford F150 Pickup 2WD FFV (Automatic (S6)) 17 $3,700
Ford F150 Pickup 2WD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
GMC Sierra C15 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
GMC Sierra K15 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
GMC Yukon 1500 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
GMC Yukon 1500 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
GMC Yukon XL 1500 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
GMC Yukon XL 1500 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 17 $3,700
Cadillac Escalade 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900
Cadillac Escalade ESV 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900
Chevrolet Silverado C15 2WD (Automatic 4-spd) 16 $3,900
Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900
Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900
Ford Expedition 2WD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD FFV (Automatic (S6)) 16 $3,900
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD FFV (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900
GMC Sierra C15 2WD (Automatic 4-spd) 16 $3,900
GMC Yukon 1500 2WD (Automatic 6-spd) 16 $3,900

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 2012 is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It has a combined MPG of 112 and costs $600 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 2012 is the Volkswagen Passat. It has a combined MPG of 34 and costs $2,250 per year to drive it.

Most Fuel Efficient Cars By Year

If you want to continue researching the best fuel efficient cars of all time, you can also look at the list of cars by year.

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