While the movement certainly has its share of passionate supporters, not everyone wants to join Team Hybrid. Some folks want great fuel economy via the gas-powered (or diesel-powered) engines that they’re used to; there is a certain comfort, we suppose, in the familiar.
For those people, we’ve put together this list of the top 10 most fuel-efficient non-hybrids for 2010, reflecting the most current data available at the time of publication. Our rankings were determined using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel. More specifically, we utilized the EPA’s combined fuel economy formula: 55 percent of city mpg rating plus 45 percent of highway mpg rating.
Ratings shown reflect those of each model’s most fuel-efficient trim and transmission configuration. Each model was allowed only one appearance on our list. Note that the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Jetta trims reflected on this list are diesel-powered.
1. 2010 Smart Fortwo – 33 city/41 highway and 36 combined
2. 2010 Volkswagen Jetta – 30 city/42 highway and 34 combined (tie)
2010 Audi A3 – 30 city/42 highway and 34 combined (tie)
2010 Volkswagen Golf – 30 city/42 highway and 34 combined (tie)
3. 2010 Mini Cooper – 28 city/37 highway and 32 combined (tie)
2010 Toyota Yaris – 29 city/36 highway and 32 combined (tie)
4. 2010 Mini Cooper Clubman – 28 city/36 hwy and 31 combined (tie)
2010 Hyundai Accent – 27 city/36 highway and 31 combined (tie)
2010 Honda Fit – 28 city/35 highway and 31 combined (tie)
2010 Kia Rio – 28 city/34 highway and 31 combined (tie)
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