8 fuel-efficient gasoline cars worth buying when hybrid and electric cars are still expensive

When it comes to hybrid cars, many people may be concerned about the complexity involved in the powertrain of this type of car. While with electric cars, it is the worry of having to replace the battery at a high cost or difficult repairs when the car has a problem on the road.

Although the strong development trend of new energy vehicles is still taking place, car manufacturers are still providing the market with many new models using internal combustion engines that use fuel efficiently.

Here are the eight new non-hybrid cars with the best fuel economy that consumers can buy in 2024, ranked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from highest to lowest.

1. Mitsubishi Mirage 2024 (6.03L/100km)

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the most traditional entry-level car on this list. It's a compact hatchback with a 1.2L I-3 gasoline engine that delivers excellent fuel economy. The EPA rates the Mirage hatchback at 36 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined.

The results put the Mitsubishi Mirage at the top of our list of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid cars you can buy new in 2024. Not only does it have an advantage in terms of fuel economy, the Mitsubishi Mirage is also one of the most affordable new cars on the market, with a starting price of just $17,840.

2. Honda Civic 2024 (6.53L/100km)

The Honda Civic has been highly rated for fuel economy for years, and that continues to be the case for 2024. However, for the best fuel economy, skip the hatchback and go for the Civic sedan.

The Honda Civic sedan starts at a very affordable $25,045 for the LX trim with the standard 2.0L I-4 engine. For the best fuel economy, go for the $28,045 Civic EX trim with a 1.5L turbocharged I-4 that gets EPA ratings of 30 mpg city/highway/combined.

3. Hyundai Elantra 2024 (6.53L/100km)

The Hyundai Elantra comes in a hybrid version with impressive fuel economy of 4.52L/100km, but the standard version of this model with a traditional internal combustion engine powertrain is no slouch either.

Starting at $22,775, the non-hybrid Hyundai Elantra SE also achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 7.35L/100km (city), 5.74L/100km (highway) and 6.53L/100km (combined).

4. Nissan Versa 2024 (6.72L/100km)

The Nissan Versa is one of the cheapest new cars you can buy in 2024, with a starting price of just $17,225. It's also one of the few cars to come standard with a five-speed manual transmission.

But if you want the best fuel economy, you'll have to ditch the manual and opt for the CVT, which will give the Versa EPA-rated fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon (7.35 L/100 km) city, 40 miles per gallon (5.88 L/100 km) highway, and 36 miles per gallon (6.72 L/100 km) combined.

5. Toyota Corolla 2024 (6.72L/100km)

Along with the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla is a car with a reputation for fuel economy. Buyers can opt for the hybrid version for maximum savings, but the base Corolla sedan is also a respectable car with a conventional 2.0L I-4 engine priced at just $23,145 (VND 588 million) and achieving 6.72L/100km on combined roads in EPA testing.

Alternatively, if you prefer the five-door look, the $24,600 hatchback variant of the Toyota Corolla also gets similar fuel economy.

6. KIA Forte 2024 (6.92L/100km)

The KIA Forte proves that affordable, economical transportation doesn’t have to be boring. In the base LX trim, this aggressively styled sedan starts at just over $20,000. Powered by a 2.0L I-4 engine, the KIA Forte LX can achieve an EPA-estimated 36 mpg on the highway.

The KIA Forte lineup includes high-performance versions with manual or dual-clutch transmissions, but the Forte LX with a new CVT automatic transmission is the most fuel-efficient version.

7. Nissan Sentra 2024 (6.92L/100km)

The Nissan Sentra is a popular name in the popular car category, and this compact sedan doesn't disappoint when it comes to fuel economy in 2024.

Starting at just $22,320, the Nissan Sentra uses a 2.0L I-4 engine that is EPA-rated at 6.92L/100km (combined), 7.84L/100km (in the city) and 5.88L/100km (highway).

Unlike some of the models mentioned above, the higher trim levels of this model like the Sentra S or Sentra SV also get very good fuel economy.

8. Volkswagen Jetta 2024 (6.92L/100km)

The Volkswagen Jetta is an affordable sedan that offers upscale styling and features at a fraction of the cost of fuel economy. Starting at just over $22,000, the base model of the Volkswagen Jetta gets 36 mpg (6.92 l/100 km) in EPA testing.

Unlike most of the other cars on this list, the Volkswagen Jetta gets the same combined fuel economy rating with either the standard six-speed manual or the optional eight-speed automatic. But the automatic is rated at 0.2 L/100 km less in the city, and the manual gets an additional 0.14 L/100 km less on the highway.