Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Hatchbacks

Want the versatility of a hatchback but hate stopping at the gas station? AutoGuide‘s Top 10 list of the most fuel efficient hatchbacks available on today’s market will certainly appeal to you.

With the growth of the electric vehicle and hybrid market, it’s no surprise to see the list being dominated by electrified vehicles. The list uses data from theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine rank.

So what tops the list? Read on and find out.

The Lexus CT 200h is the Japanese automaker’s version of a luxury Toyota Prius hybrid. Powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor, the CT 200h provides 134 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque while giving its owners 43 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. That means the CT 200h is good for a 42-mpg combined rating. The CT 200h has a starting price of $32,960 including destination.

Also getting a 42-mpg combined rating is the Honda Insight while the Mitsubishi Mirage misses the list with an average 40 mpg.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Lexus CT200h vs. 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid – Video

The mighty Toyota Prius, the world’s best-selling hybrid, has a starting price of $25,010. Like the Lexus CT 200h, the Prius is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor for a total system output of 134 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque. It is however, more fuel efficient than the CT 200h getting an EPA-estimated 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway for a 50 mpg overall.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Toyota Prius vs. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

The smaller Prius model now available on the market, the Prius c, is more affordable with a starting price of $19,890. Designed primarily for city driving, the Prius c has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine under its hood with an electric motor that provides 99 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque in total. As a result, its city fuel economy is impressive at 53 mpg while its highway rating is 46 mpg. Owners of the Prius c should expect to get a 50-mpg combined rating.

SEE ALSO: 2012 Toyota Prius c Review [Video]

The Chevrolet Volt might often be compared to the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle, but the Volt is actually an electric vehicle that can use a standard gasoline engine to generate more eletricity once its electric power is dried up. Its gasoline engine is a 1.4-liter four-cylinder and helps provide a total system output of 149 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Priced from $34,995 the Chevy Volt is good for a 94-MPGe (miles-per-gallon equivalent) combined rating.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Chevrolet Volt Review

Ford has entered the electrified market place with several models, one of which is the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. With a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood paired to an electric motor, the C-MAX Energi is good for 188 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It gets an EPA-estimated 108 MPGe city, 92 MPGe highway rating that calculates to a 100-MPGe combined rating. Priced from $33,745, the C-MAX is also available with a hybrid variant that has a starting price of $25,995.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Review

The Ford Focus Electric is the American automaker’s take on EVs with a starting price of $35,995. The electric vehicle sports 143 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque and gets an impressive 110 MPGe in the city and 99 MPGe on the highway, netting it 105 MPGe combined. It also has an EPA-estimated range of 76 miles and can reach a top speed of 84 mph.

SEE ALSO: 2012 Ford Focus Electric Review – Video

The all-electric Nissan Leaf has been a healthy competitor in the marketplace for quite some time now, and has a starting price of $29,650. Nissan’s electric hatchback offers 107 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque with an EPA-estimated 126 MPGe city and 101 MPGe highway rating or 114 combined. For the 2014 model year, the Leaf’s range improves to 84 miles, up from the 2013 model year’s 76 miles.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Nissan Leaf Review

Fiat’s electric car is only available to buyers in California and starts at $32,600. With 111 hp and 147 lb-ft of torque, the 500e nets 122 MPGe in the city and 108 MPGe on the highway, giving it a 116-MPGe combined rating. Thanks to incentives however, the price can tumble to $19,600. Of course, that doesn’t matter because you can’t actually buy one because Fiat only leases them. The Italian automaker claims that the 500e is good for 87 miles of all-electric driving.

SEE ALSO: Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Fiat 500e

Honda’s contribution to the EV market comes in the form of a Fit, which is only available as a lease just like Fiat’s EV. For $259 per month for 36 months, the Fit provides ample performance with 123 hp and 189 lb-ft of torque and impressive enough efficiency to land itself in second place. The Fit EV gets an EPA-estimated 132-MPGe city and 105-MPGe highway rating for a 118-MPGe combined rating. It has an estimated driving range of 82 miles.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Honda Fit EV Review – Video

Topping the list of the most fuel efficient hatchbacks is the Chevrolet Spark EV, getting a 119-MPGe combined rating (128-MPGe city, 109-MPGe highway). With a starting price of $28,305 the Spark EV is not only affordable, but delivers an impressive 400 lb-ft of torque with 140 hp. Fully charged, it gets an estimated range of 82 miles which makes it comparable to other EVs on the market.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV Review