Finding the best mpg sports car
Sports cars are a fun way to feel connected to the road, especially if it has a manual gearbox. However, the there is an expectation that a sports car will have a lower gas mileage, ranging between 15 and 25 combined. What if I told you that there is a way to enjoy a fast, fun car without compromising on at the pump? Is there a best mpg sports car? Sure, but it is an active list that changes. Thus, here’s a list of some of the best mpg sports cars.
What is the best mpg sports car?
As said before, this is going to boil down to personal preference and some compromises. However, sports cars with a hybrid engine tend to have better fuel economy.
Here’s a list of some of the best sports cars with excellent fuel economy.
2021 Toyota Supra
Kicking things off with the MKV Toyota Supra, this car represents a culmination of several Supra generations. With it’s twin turbocharged engine, this two door does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds.
With its rather luxurious interior–inherited from BMW–this is a nice car to be in, all while pulling off a miles per gallon (MPG) rating of 30 mpg highway and 25 combined. This is, of course, rated with the eight speed automatic transmission. However, when the six speed manual transmission is available, these numbers should stay about the same (maybe slightly lower). Not bad for a vehicle of this caliber.
The Toyota Supra does require premium gasoline, but it’s worth it for the turbos. This vehicle would also make a relatively good daily driver if owned in a warmer climate, as it has plenty of trunk space, comfortable enough and pretty fuel efficient.
Mazda MX 5 Miata
The Mazda Miata is a small roadster created in the early 90s. The Miata has a decent sized fanbase and following, and for good reason. At its heart, the MX 5 is a raw roadster. It isn’t the fastest (the ND generation makes 155 horsepower), nor does it accelerate the fast (The ND does it in 5.9 seconds).
However, it is the thesis of what a sports car is: fun to drive and easy to throw around with its enjoyable handling. This roadster also happens to have the lowers starting price on this list, at $27,000.
Armed with a six speed manual transmission (don’t get the automatic transmissions), the Miata is a blast to drive and averages 25-26 combined and runs on 87 octane.
However, you don’t necessarily have to get the most recent generation Miata. All of them fair similarly in gas mileage. The car market has plenty of Miata’s of all generations for sale, so finding one you like (NA, NB, NC or ND) shouldn’t be an issue at all.
If you are looking for something with more power in a similar form factor, you might want to look at the Fiat 124 Spider, specifically the Abarth version. The 124 was a partnership between Mazda and Fiat, making the vehicle pretty similar to the Miata–with the exception of the exterior. This turbocharged engine eeks out some more horsepower, but it does cost more (and more to maintain).
Honda Civic Si
The Honda Civic Si is Honda’s sporty Civic trim (aside of the Type R, but that is a breed of its own). This four seater is a great way to get a little bit of pep in a sedan or coupe form factor. There are several different Civic Si generations.
While these aren’t particularly fast in any sort of meaning of the word, they are still relatively interesting in their six speed manual glory. Plus, it’s a Civic, so reliability isn’t (generally) a problem and it gets great gas mileage: 27 city/37 highway.
Honda Civic Type R
If you’re looking for something that is more performance based, then the Honda Civic Type R is a good option, although you do sacrifice some gas mileage (22 city, 28 highway). Equipped with an all wheel drive system, swift acceleration and sharp handling, this car has a winning combination.
2022 Ford Mustang EcoBoost
Is this a base model Mustang? Yep. The Ford Mustang lower trim levels have come a long way since its V6 days. The V6 was replaced with a 2.3 liter turbo four cylinder engine making 310 horsepower and has a 0-60 of 5.8 seconds. Sure, this isn’t anything impressive, and it isn’t traditional American muscle, but it will still get the job done.
As for fuel economy, this Mustang gets 21 city/32 highway, compared to its V8 big brothers 15/23 split. Mustang fanboys will argue that it isn’t a “real Mustang,” but it is still a a decent vehicle with rather reasonable fuel economy and makes this pretty good alternative to the traditional sense of the term “Mustang.”
If you don’t care about fuel economy, then older 5.0 V8 Mustangs can be found for similar prices of the EcoBoost Mustang.
2022 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
Looking for a more affordable-yet-sporty hot hatch with solid fuel economy? Look no further than the newest Hyundai Veloster Turbo. With a quirky 3 door setup, this little hatchback is pretty good for the money.
The Veloster Turbo gets 28/34 mpg and does so while maintaining a sports car like feel. Its low center of gravity allows you to get behind the steering wheel and on a winding road with no issues. The 4 seat design also makes this a fairly practical choice. This is one of the few front wheel drive cars on the list, making it an easier vehicle to drive in more northern climates.
2022 Lexus LC 500h
This is the most expensive vehicle on this list. However, the Lexus LC 500h is also one of the fastest cars on this list. This luxury couple has a 0-60 of 4.6 seconds, it has a top speed of 168 mph. This hybrid V6 produces 384 horsepower, more or less matching the Supra.
However, this coupe/convertible has high quality finishes and a roomy cabin. This all comes at a price, though: $99,000. This hybrid power terrain is fairly efficient, with a combined 29 mpg.
2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance
While it may be cheating to put an electric vehicle on this list, it’s hard to deny the Model 3’s speed, accelerate and “fuel economy,” if you want to call it that. However, it truly is an efficient vehicle, despite its all-too-frequent quality control issues.
While you may sacrifices a couple miles, jumping to the “sport” model is the way to go. This give the Model 3 a 0-60 of about 3 seconds and a top speed of 160 miles per hour. This is, of course, all straight line speed. However, it is a pretty impressive feat of technology
It’s important to remember that getting into the Tesla community requires a level of patience and lenience when it comes to delivery times and build quality. If you can get past that, then an EV is a good option for an efficient ride that is also sporty.
Why is fuel economy so important?
Not only does it determine how frequently and how much you spend at the pump, it also has a positive impact on the environment. There doesn’t have to be compromise when picking a fuel efficient, good gas mileage vehicle and marrying that with a sports car. Hopefully you got and idea of a best mpg sports car from the list above.