Chevy Spark Tops Fuel Economy List for 2nd Year

For the second year in a row, the Chevrolet Spark is the most fuel-efficient vehicle, according to the 2015 Fuel Economy Guide released by the EPA and the US Energy Department.

The Spark leads a list that is made up predominantly of electric vehicles.

The subcompact Spark is rated at receiving the equivalent of 119 miles per gallon combined, 128 city and 109 highway. For conversion purposes, one gallon of gasoline equals 33.7 kWh.

Coming in behind the Spark is the minicompact Fiat 500e and the compact Volkswagen e-Golf, both at 116 mpg combined. The list finishes with the midsize Nissan Leaf at 114 mpg, the two-seater smart fortwo electric drive coupe and convertible at 107 mpg, and the small station wagon Kia Soul Electric at 105 mpg.

Two gasoline powered vehicles made the list as first for their class: the midsize station wagon Toyota Prius v at 42 mpg, and the large Ford C-Max Hybrid at 40 mpg.

This year the online guide offers a separate tab that excludes electric vehicles. In that group, the compact Toyota Prius c Hybrid and the midsize Toyota Prius Hybrid come out on top, both at 50 mpg, followed by the above noted Toyota Prius v and Ford C-Max Hybrid.

The list finishes with the two-seater Honda CR-Z and minicompact Scion iQ, both at 37 mpg, the subcompacts Audi A3 Diesel and Ford Fiesta SFE FWD, both at 36 mpg, and the small station wagon Honda Fit at 36 mpg.

Among SUVs and vans, the leaders were the small SUV Lexus NX 300h 2WD, the standard SUV Toyota Highlander 4WD using gasoline and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD LE Plus, and for minivans the Mazda 5. For standard pickup trucks, the Ram 1500 2WD came out on top.

Although the Spark led this year’s and last year’s lists, in 2012, the 2013 Scion iQ EV and the Honda Fit EV came out on top.