Yahoo Autos The 30 most efficient vehicles of 2024: EVs, plug-in hybrids and gas-powered cars
Fueling our cars is no small expense, but we have do to it often unless we want a very heavy paperweight in our driveway. That can make things interesting ā frustrating, burdensome ā when the market is in turmoil, or when we have a life change that necessitates greater consumption. Gas prices can fluctuate quickly, as well. And itās not just internal combustion vehicles that are subject to changing fuel costs. EV operating costs are tied to energy prices, too, of course, which means changes in supply and demand due to global or national economics, or even regional weather events, can mean weāre paying more per mile regardless of what fuels our vehicles. Choosing one of the most efficient vehicles as a daily driver can help your bottom line. And perhaps itās not about the money.
Even when prices are cheap, many of us would like to minimize our footprint in the course of our daily lives. As such, choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle can be a priority for drivers who want to spend less and pollute less. With that in mind, here are the most efficient vehicles you can buy today, broken down by powertrain, with combined fuel economy and estimated annual fuel costs listed. (EPA calculates annual fuel cost based on "45% highway, 55% city driving, 15,000 annual miles and current fuel prices," but also offers a calculator to personalize your own estimated yearly fuel costs.)
Top 10 most efficient EVs for 2024
Battery-electric vehicles are the obvious choice for saving on fuel costs and consumption, but not all EVs are created equal. Range is often the bigger consideration for many customers when choosing an EV ā we just want to be able to get where weāre going with the least disruption and downtime. If lower operating costs and carbon footprint is your goal, though, you want to pay more attention to efficiency than driving range. The simplest way for a consumer to do this is to look at the EPAās combined miles-per-gallon-equivalent (mpg-e) rating. Weāre also including the EPAās estimated annual fuel costs. Here are the top 10 most efficient EVs, based on the most efficient version of each model. These are also the least expensive to fuel overall.
1. Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Long Range RWD w/ 18-inch wheels): 140 mpg-e; $550/yr.
2. Lucid Air (Pure RWD w/ 19-inch wheels): 137 mpg-e; $550/yr.
3. Tesla Model 3 (RWD): 132 mpg-e; $550/yr.
4. Telsa Model Y (AWD): 123 mpg-e; $600/yr.
5. (Tie) BMW i4 (eDrive35 w/ 18-inch wheels): 120 mpg-e; $650/yr.
5. (Tie) Tesla Model S: 120 mpg-e; $650/yr.
7. Toyota bZ4X: 119 mpg-e; $650/yr.
8. Kia EV6 (Standard Range RWD): 117 mpg-e; $605/yr.
9. Hyundai Kona Electric (Long Range): 116 mpg-e; $650/yr.
10. Polestar 2 (Single Motor w/ 19-inch wheels): 115 mpg-e; $650/yr.
