Looking for a new sedan that gets great MPG? See the top 10 best gas mileage hybrids of 2015, ranked by combined fuel economy when equipped with an automatic transmission and the car value. Whether you've got a long daily commute or always stay closer to home, maximizing your MPG has never meant more. These are great green vehicles that you can live with, and that don't force you to compromise your lifestyle.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid
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43/39 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy -
200 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 L -
The 2015 Toyota Camry has a starting sticker price just under $24,000 and tops out closer to $35,000 for a fully loaded XLE V6 model. While those prices are essentially on par with the outgoing 2014 Camry, buyers should expect fewer/smaller incentives on the more attractive, more competitive 2015 model.
2015 Toyota Prius V
- 44/40 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 134 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 1.8 L
- Base price for a 2015 Toyota Prius V Two starts at about $27,500 with the destination charge included. A Prius V Three starts at a little less than $29,000, while the new Prius V Four starts at a bit more than $30,000. The top-line Prius V Five starts at about $31,000, and if you add in the Advanced Technology Package, the price shoots up to more than $37,000.
VERSATILE INTERIOR SPACE
The "V" is for "versatility," and with tons of cargo space, a seat that folds in a 60/40 split, adjustable rear seats for creating more legroom, and even a fold-flat front passenger seat for extra-long objects, the 2015 Toyota Prius V delivers in spades.(Hybrid SE and XLE)
2015 Lexus CT
- 43/40 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 134 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 1.8 L
- The 2015 Lexus CT 200h is the brand's most affordable model, with a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $33,000 before adding options. The interesting thing is that even when you start loading up the options like navigation, dynamic cruise control and F Sport accessories, you barely crack the $40,000 mark, not bad for a luxury-brand vehicle like the CT 200h, so you may as well load up.
Fuel economy is the name of the game for this hybrid, and with the Prius drivetrain to back it up, it's hard to match when it comes to minimizing your fuel bill. The 98-horsepower 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine and 80-horsepower electric-drive motor result in 43 MPG for the Lexus CT 200h in the EPA city cycle, very impressive. However, you pay for it when you want to get moving, as the 10-second 0-60-mph acceleration performance that can be justified as "socially responsible" in a Prius is a bit of a letdown in a sporty luxury-brand car that looks like it should run with Audis and BMWs.
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid
- 43/40 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 134 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 1.8 L
- The 2015 Lexus CT 200h is the brand's most affordable model, with a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $33,000 before adding options. The interesting thing is that even when you start loading up the options like navigation, dynamic cruise control and F Sport accessories, you barely crack the $40,000 mark, not bad for a luxury-brand vehicle like the CT 200h, so you may as well load up.
Fuel economy is the name of the game for this hybrid, and with the Prius drivetrain to back it up, it's hard to match when it comes to minimizing your fuel bill. The 98-horsepower 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine and 80-horsepower electric-drive motor result in 43 MPG for the Lexus CT 200h in the EPA city cycle, very impressive. However, you pay for it when you want to get moving, as the 10-second 0-60-mph acceleration performance that can be justified as "socially responsible" in a Prius is a bit of a letdown in a sporty luxury-brand car that looks like it should run with Audis and BMWs.
2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
- 42/48 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 170 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 1.4 L
- The 2015 Jetta Hybrid comes fully loaded at around $32,500. Those seeking a fuel-sipper can opt for a TDI diesel model, starting around $22,500 with the manual transmission.
Driving Impressions: All Jettas offer excellent road manners, good feedback from the steering and brakes and an ability to round corners without fuss. The GLI offers the best handling, but its ride can be a bit harsh. We actually enjoyed the Jetta TDI and Hybrid trims the most, although the Hybrid's brakes seemed to grab abruptly due to the regenerative-braking feature.
2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
- 44/47 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 110 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, iVTEC, 1.5L
- The Civic Hybrid starts at about $25,500 and can reach up to a bit more than $28,000. If you're looking for performance, the Civic Si coupe and sedan start at about $24,000, topping out at about $25,500.
Driving Impressions: Want an inexpensive, fuel-sipping commuter? Then the Civic's solid road manners and excellent fuel economy are just what the doctor ordered. Want something that'll give you a little more driving pleasure, then surprise, the Civic manages that just as well. With sharp steering, solid brakes, and a stiff structure, the Civic can hang with the best of them, making you think that it's really a compact sport sedan.
2015 Honda Accord Hybrid
- 50/45 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 196 Horsepower 4-Cyl, i-VTEC Hybrid, 2 L
- 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid models range from roughly $30,000 to $36,000.
HONDA ACCORD HYBRID
Get behind the wheel of this Honda and, if it weren't for its aversion to gas stations, you might not realize you're driving a hybrid. In addition to appearing nearly identical to the regular Accord, the 2015 Accord Hybrid drives similarly, with transitions between its gasoline engine and electric motor nearly imperceptible. The only obtrusion we experienced from the hybrid was a whine from the electric powertrain likely to be heard only by canines and human passengers whose ears can still sense higher frequencies.
2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
CARPOOL STICKERS
Among the incentives for buying a plug-in vehicle is a sticker that grants solo access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV, aka carpool) lanes. In regions such as traffic-clogged Southern California, accessing these lanes to cut daily commute times can easily justify the Plug-in’s price premium over the standard Prius.
- 50/95 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 1.8-liter inline-4 + electric motor
Engine: 98 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm, 105 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
Electric motor: 80 horsepower/153 lb-ft of torque - The 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid has a manufacturer's suggested retail price starting at $30,815. The higher-trim advance model starts at $35,730 and can climb to just under $39,000 when loaded with the Technology Package. These prices are before available tax incentives, such as the $2,500 federal tax credit. Compared with the Prius Three trim on which it's based, the Plug-in is over $4,000 more, though that gap lessens when factoring in applicable tax incentives. And it must be stated again: It's hard to put a price on solo access to carpool lanes.
PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSION
The Prius' powertrain is among the smoothest of hybrids. The way it divvies power between its gasoline engine, lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor isn't jarring, and may not even be noticeable to some drivers. Despite what some may assume, the Prius is not absurdly slow.
Toyota Prius C
- 53/46 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- 99 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 1.5 L
- When you include the $825 destination charge, the base 2015 Toyota Prius One hybrid starts at a modest $20,300 or so. That climbs to about $25,300 for the Prius C Four, still not terribly expensive. Those prices come in at about $5,000 less than that of the traditional Prius liftback.
C stands for City
2015 Prius C is at its best in its home environment. It's where the little Prius gets its best fuel economy of 53 mpg, and if you're easy on the throttle, it'll do even better. The Prius C takes about 11.5 seconds to get to 60 mph, not surprising since the hybrid has only 99 horsepower to work with. It's not dangerously slow, but the pokey acceleration, combined with a high level of road noise, won't exactly endear the Prius C to road-trippers.
50 MPG
Not only does the Prius C hybrid get a 50-mpg combined rating for city/highway fuel economy, and not only does it make it the most fuel efficient non-plug-in car on the road, but that number is easily beatable if you just take it a little easier on the gas pedal.
2015 Toyota Prius
As the best-selling hybrid in the world, it's no surprise that the 2015 Toyota Prius is the car most people think of when they hear the word "hybrid." With traditional and plug-in models available, the fuel-efficient 5-door hatchbacks pair a thrifty gasoline engine to an electric motor. Thanks to some very clever drivetrain programming, you'll get excellent fuel economy almost regardless of how heavy you are on the gas pedal. It does this with all the practicality of any hatchback, with a decently sized rear seat and plenty of cargo room. These days, the Toyota Prius faces stiff competition from the more refined Ford C-Max and Chevrolet Volt – both of which are more engaging to drive – but remains the hybrid to beat.
- 51/48 MPG EPA estimates city/hwy
- Net output:134 Horsepower 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 1.8 L
Engine: 98 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm; 105 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm Electric motor: 80 horsepower/153 lb-ft of torque - The base 2015 Toyota Prius Two starts with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $25,500, including the $825 destination charge. As you move up the ladder, you add about $2,000 each time, with the top-of-the-line Prius Five coming in around $31,000. Start adding option packages to that, and you can drive a fully loaded Prius Five off the lot for more than $40,000. Prius Plug-in Hybrid models start at about $31,000, with the Advanced package adding nearly $5,000 to that. However, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid is eligible for government EV incentives, plus it qualifies for single-occupant carpool-lane access in some areas, a solid incentive if you have a tough commute.
Whether you're lead-footing it or trying to save, the Prius does everything it can to save gas, and it's very good at its job. By running in pure electric mode at low speeds such as parking lots, the Prius can easily top its already-impressive EPA ratings when driven conservatively, and match them almost regardless.
