10 Gasoline-Powered Cars that Get 40 MPG

2019 Volkswagen Jetta SEL in motion ・ Photo by Volkswagen

While the executive branch of U.S. government may be looking to reduce our national fuel efficiency standards, auto manufacturers are happily churning out a wide range of vehicles engineered to save big bucks at the pump. Case in point: our list of 40-mpg cars. It’s all about affordability. There are no expensive hybrid or diesel-powered vehicles on the list. Our choices focus exclusively on conventional gasoline-powered autos.

Gas prices have risen dramatically from their lows in 2016. If your commuting needs are extreme, with hundreds of miles to cover every week, this marvelous group of four-door sedans and five-door hatchbacks are rated for at least 40 mpg on the highway to deliver maximum savings.

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage has an official EPA rating of 37 in the city, 43 mpg on the highway, and 39 mpg combined. The Mirage is available as a five-door hatchback or a four-door sedan called the G4. Pricing starts at just $13,395 for the base ES hatch. All Mirage get their go from a naturally-aspirated 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. Owners can choose from either a five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions.

The CVT hatchback is the most fuel-efficient of the bunch. You’ll want to upgrade to the SE trim level ($16,095) to gain Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The top-of-the-line GT model ($16,595) also includes HID headlamps and heated front seats. Mitsubishi’s 10-year/100,000 powertrain warranty provides peace of mind.

Photo by Mitsubishi

2018 Honda Civic

The 2018 Honda Civic earns the runner-up spot on our list. Three variants are available: a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback, and a two-door coupe, with a wide range of trim levels and drivetrains. The Civic EX-T sedan ($21,600) features a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque.

The Civic is the most fuel-efficient when fitted with this turbo engine and a CVT automatic transmission, which yield an EPA rating of 32 city / 42 highway / 36 combined. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all models but the base LX. The Civic was the best-selling compact car in America for 2017, easily topping its perennial rival, the Toyota Corolla.

Photo by Honda

2018 Honda Fit

The 2018 Honda Fit’s versatile interior makes it one of the most compelling vehicles achieve 40 mpg on the highway. Four trim levels are offered: LX ($16,190), Sport ($17,500), EX ($18,160), and EX-L ($20,520). The five-door Fit hatchback features a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 128 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque when equipped with a CVT automatic transmission (which is standard in the EX-L and optional in all other models).

The base LX model is EPA-rated at 33 city / 40 highway / 36 combined when equipped with the optional CVT. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all models but the LX.

Photo by Honda

2018 Hyundai Elantra Eco

The Elantra Eco is the most fuel-efficient model in the 2018 Hyundai Elantra range, with an EPA rating of 32 city / 40 highway / 35 combined mpg. Its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 128 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. It’s exclusively mated to a seven-speed EcoShift dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The Elantra Eco is a solid value overall, and it presents a more conservatively styled alternative to the best-selling Honda Civic. While the Eco has an MSRP of $20,550, substantial discounts may apply. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with heated front seats, a blind-spot monitoring system, and a rear cross-traffic alert. Hyundai’s extensive 10-year/100,000 mile warranty is always compelling.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Toyota Yaris iA

In other parts of the world, the 2018 Toyota Yaris iA is sold as the Mazda2. But never mind the name — we’re lucky to have this sweet little sedan in the U.S., as it delivers a splendid combination of sportiness and efficiency.

The Yaris iA's naturally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. The sedan carries a price tag of $17,050 and is EPA-rated at 32 city / 40 highway / 35 combined mpg when equipped with its automatic transmission. The six-speed manual offers an engaging driving experience and a lower price ($15,950) but is slightly less fuel-efficient. A low-speed pre-collision safety system is standard.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Ford Focus SE sedan

The 2018 Ford Focus sedan ($19,245) is EPA rated at 30 city / 40 highway / 34 combined mpg when equipped with the award-winning 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost turbo engine (featuring 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque) and five-speed manual transmission. Choosing the six-speed automatic transmission drops the ratings to 27 city / 38 highway / 31 combined mpg. The tiny but mighty 1.0-liter engine is not available in the five-door Focus hatchback.

Fans of small Fords are feeling let down of late. While Ford redesigned the Focus for 2019, the company has announced that it will sell only a crossover version of the Focus in the U.S. in the coming years, while the smaller Fiesta will disappear altogether. 

Photo by Ford

2018 Toyota Corolla LE Eco

The Toyota Corolla continues to be an excellent value, year-after-year. The LE Eco is the most fuel-efficient entry in the 2018 Corolla lineup, with EPA ratings of 30 city / 40 highway / 34 combined mpg. The Corolla LE Eco’s naturally aspirated 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated exclusively to a CVT automatic transmission.

Toyota puts safety at the forefront. All 2018 Corollas feature the Toyota Safety Sense P package as standard equipment, which includes a lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Toyota Camry

Think a 40-mpg car needs to be small and cramped? Think again! The 2018 Toyota Camry L ($23,495) delivers astounding numbers for a conventionally powered mid-size sedan, with an EPA rating of 29 city / 41 highway / 33 combined mpg. The Camry L’s naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces a healthy 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission for optimal efficiency.

Every 2018 Camry includes the Toyota Safety Sense P package with automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure alert with steering assist, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. The Camry was completely redesigned for the 2018 model year and has been outselling the competing Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion by a considerable margin.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Chevrolet Cruze

The four-door Chevrolet Cruze sedan is EPA-rated at 29 city / 40 highway / 33 combined mpg with its six-speed automatic transmission and 27 city / 40 highway / 32 mpg with its six-speed manual. Its turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Cruze is also available as a five-door hatchback, and a highly efficient 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine is available in both body styles.

The diesel Cruze delivers a remarkable 52 highway mpg with the six-speed manual and 48 highway mpg when equipped with the six-speed automatic. Every Cruze provides a high-level of connectivity, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support along with OnStar 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Volkswagen Jetta

Looking for a great buy? While the Volkswagen Jetta benefits from a 2019 model year redesign, there are plenty of 2018 models still on dealer lots — and we expect aggressive discounts and financing deals to make way for the new model.

The 2018 Jetta is offered in six trim levels with trio of model-specific drivetrains. The turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine in the Jetta S ($18,645), Wolfsburg Edition ($20,345), and SE ($21,245) delivers 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It’s EPA rated at 28 city / 40 highway / 33 combined mpg when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. VW’s “People First Warranty” provides six years or 72,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage.

Photo by Volkswagen