Finding the best gas mileage used cars to buy can be a daunting task, given the overwhelming amount of information out there and less-than-honest car salesmen. It is also the largest and worst financial decision we will make, albeit a necessary one because of the way the country’s infrastructure has been built.
The necessity of owning a car for transportation in America despite the financial disadvantages means that it is a necessity to find cars with good gas mileage that won’t punish your wallet. I could’ve avoided a lot of heartache had I had this knowledge when I bought my first used car, which ended up costing me a lot of money on fuel and repairs.
In this post, you will find a good set of cheap, fuel efficient cars that are both reliable and worth the price they are selling for so you can both avoid getting burned like what happened to me and get yourself a fantastic deal.
With that in mind…
Table of Contents
Best Gas Mileage Used Car for Colder Climates: 2015-2016 Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 equipped with the optional all-wheel-drive system is, in my opinion, the best choice of car in places like the Northeast, where winters are harsh, snow is likely, and the roads can shatter your spine. With high ground clearance, decent cargo capacity, and best-in-class reliability, the CX-5 is more than capable of handling all of these while providing a trouble-free driving experience.
With a high quality interior and and good driving dynamics, its a surprise that the CX-5 is affordable on the used market: $17,000-$20,000 for a good condition previous generation car with less than 70k miles. However, the CX-5’s biggest drawback is its speed, or lack thereof! It is a bit slow when equipped with the base 2.0 liter 4 cylinder, though at the cost of 1 mpg of fuel economy, you can opt for a noticeably quicker 2.5 liter engine.
If fuel economy is your goal, then stick to the base engine, since that has a slight edge. The CX-5 with AWD, in my opinion, represents an under-appreciated all-weather gem on the used car market, so get them before everyone else in Subaru Crosstreks catches on and starts buying them!
2015-2016 Mazda CX-5 Specifications
- Engine: 155 hp 2.0 liter 4 cylinder (Base), 185 hp 2.5 liter 4 cylinder (optional)
- Transmission: 6 speed automatic
- Fuel Economy: 25 City / 31 Highway (Base 2.0 Liter Engine), 24 City / 30 Highway (optional 2.5 liter engine)
- Approximate Maintenance Costs: $400.00/year
- Cargo Capacity: 34.1 ft³, 64.8 ft³ with seat area
- Average Cost to Buy: $17,000-$20,000
Cheapest Fuel Efficient Car to Buy: 2010-2013 Honda Fit
If you need something cheap, practical, and so simple that nothing could possibly go wrong, then the Honda Fit is a great choice.
These small hatchbacks have been sold in the U.S. since 2007, and even in this age of crazy-high used car prices, finding a good, low mileage example with less than 100k miles for less than $8,000 is fairly easy. It is also practical, as it has more cargo volume than Honda’s own fullsize Accord. High fuel efficiency (35-40 mpg) and low running costs 15%-20% below the industry average mean that maintenance will be inexpensive when something does break.
However, to get the best car, find a car that was manufactured in Japan by checking the VIN plate for a J as the first digit. Also, try to find a car with a manual transmission, and avoid the 2015-2016 model years, since those were the first Fits made in Mexico, and quality control issues were a problem. Also, Honda manual transmissions have a reputation of being the most reliable and best feeling in the industry, so they are a great choice both for simplicity and for the fun factor.
If possible, try to find a 2012-2013 model year car, as those have the reputation of being the best of the run, but any generation of Fit will provide you years of trouble free transportation with basic maintenance.
2010-2013 Honda Fit Specifications
- Engine: 113 hp 1.5 Liter 4 Cylinder
- Transmission: 5 speed manual (standard), 5 speed automatic (optional)
- Fuel Economy: 28 city / 35 Highway
- Approximate Maintenance Costs: $400.00/year
- Cargo Capacity: 20.6 ft³, 57.3 ft³ with seat area
- Average Cost to Buy: $8,000-$10,000
Best Gas Mileage Car: 2010-2015 Toyota Prius
If you will only own the absolute best gas mileage used cars on the market, and you want to spend as little money as possible on fuel, then there is only one option. That is, the gold standard for hybrids, the Toyota Prius, is a clear winner. Offering 50 mpg, decent cargo space, a comfortable ride, the Prius, over its more than 2 decades of production, has shown that hybrids can offer industry leading reliability on par with conventional cars.
However, the Prius is not perfect. The interior plastics are hard and belong in $5.00 toys bought from Walmart, not a car. Also notable is the fact that the hybrid batteries that make the car so fuel efficient ultimately will fail. Without them, the car can’t be driven, and to replace them costs $2,000-$4,000. Nonetheless, the cost savings from fuel can make this up if you keep the car long enough, and in most states, Toyota warranties the batteries for up to 150k miles.
If you are looking for a Prius, budget $13,000-$15,000 to find a one-owner, previous-generation model with low mileage.
2010-2015 Toyota Prius Specifications
- Drivetrain: 98 hp 1.8 Liter 4 Cylinder with 202 V hybrid battery assist. (134 hp combined)
- Transmission: CVT
- Fuel Economy: 51 City / 48 Highway
- Approximate Maintenance Costs: $410.00/year
- Cargo Capacity: 20.6 ft³, 67.3 ft³ with seat area
- Average Cost to Buy: $13,000-$15,000
Best Gas Mileage Luxury Car: 2010-2015 Lexus Rx450h
If you have a bit more initial cash to work with and are willing to spend a bit more for something comfortable, but don’t want to constantly throw money away on maintaining it, then the Lexus Rx450h is the car for you. While its European competitors regularly languish at the bottom of reliability lists and at the top of highest maintenance cost lists, the opposite is true for Lexus, who has consistently built luxury cars just as reliable as the more mainstream Toyotas of their parent company.
In the used market, the 2010-2015 Lexus Rx450h offers the best package overall, with great gas mileage (30 mpg) for its size and class leading cargo capacity. However, all is not perfect with the Lexus. While ride quality and interior build quality are luxury car excellent, the infotainment system’s controls are too finicky, and there is no optional third row seat available.
As with the Prius, the Rx450h’s hybrid batteries can and will eventually fail, though the fuel savings compared to a conventional midsize crossover should exceed the $2,000-$4,000 cost to replace the batteries if you keep the car long enough.
Budget $20,000-$25,000, you should be able to get a low mileage car in good condition from either a dealer or private seller.
2010-2015 Lexus Rx450h Specifications
- Drivetrain: 245 hp 3.5 liter V6 with 288 V hybrid battery assist (295 hp combined)
- Transmission: CVT
- Fuel Economy: 32 City / 28 Highway
- Approximate Maintenance Costs: $575.00/year
- Cargo Capacity: 40 ft³, 80.3 ft³ with seat area
- Average Cost to Buy: $20,000-$25,000
Summary
With this list of the best gas mileage used cars to buy, hopefully, you will be able to make a smart buying decision that you will not regret. Which of these four used cars would you personally buy? Let me know down in the comments below.
