These Are the Most Fuel-Efficient Cars Drivers Can Buy Now

Photo by Dextar Studio ™

Article courtesy of Rerev

Gas prices are up 35% since the Iran war started,

and 1 in 4 Americans now say they’d upgrade to a cheaper car if fuel costs keep rising. For anyone considering that switch, the newly released September 2026 study by auto experts at Rerev reveals the top 10 vehicles that are still affordable to drive even at today’s pump rates.

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the cheapest car to fill up in America right now, with owners spending under $1.6K on fuel yearly.
Driving the Volkswagen Jetta costs around $12 for every 100 miles, making it one of the most affordable options on the market.
The Toyota Corolla holds the highest safety rating and costs just $1.8K a year in gas.

The research examined popular gas-powered cars to find which ones cost the least to keep fueled as gas prices climb. The report compared each car’s yearly fuel cost today against what the same car cost to fuel a year ago. It also looked at each car’s frontal crash safety rating and average yearly repair cost. Cars were then ranked by current yearly gas expenses, with the year-over-year increase shown alongside to better show what driving each car actually costs.

Here’s a look at the 10 cheapest cars to fuel right now:

Model	Annual Fuel Cost (Today) ($)	$ Increase vs Year Ago	Cost per 100 Miles ($)	Frontal Crash Stars	Repair Cost ($/yr)
Mitsubishi Mirage	1,577	354	10.51	4	$457
Hyundai Accent	1,708	383	11.39	4	$444
Hyundai Elantra w/Stop-Start	1,757	394	11.71	4	$452
Nissan Versa	1,757	394	11.71	4	$456
Nissan Sentra	1,809	406	12.06	4	$491
Toyota Corolla	1,809	406	12.06	5	$362
Volkswagen Jetta	1,809	406	12.06	4	$609
Honda Accord	1,922	431	12.81	5	$400
Hyundai Sonata	1,922	431	12.81	4	$458
Kia Forte	1,922	431	12.81	4	$451

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. Mitsubishi Mirage

Annual fuel cost: $1,577, the lowest of any car studied
Fuel cost increase from a year ago: $354, the smallest jump on the list
Frontal crash rating: 4 stars
Repair cost: $457 a year

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the cheapest car to drive in the country right now, with owners spending under $1.6K a year on gas. Fuel prices have climbed sharply everywhere, but the Mirage’s small engine kept that hit smaller, adding just $354 to its yearly fuel bill. On top of the savings at the pump, the Mirage is also cheap to keep running, with a $457 yearly repair bill, and it still holds a solid 4-star safety rating.

2. Hyundai Accent

Coming in second, the Hyundai Accent costs about $1.7K a year to keep fueled at the current pump rates. Even as gas prices went up across the country, the Accent’s fuel bill only grew by $383, a smaller jump than most cars saw. It’s also affordable to maintain, with owners spending around $444 a year on repairs, and it carries a 4-star safety rating, making it one of the more budget-friendly, reliable picks.

3. Hyundai Elantra with Stop-Start

The Hyundai Elantra with Stop-Start ranks third, costing drivers around $1,757 a year in gas. Its fuel bill climbed by $394 over the past year, which isn’t a big jump considering how much gas prices have risen overall. Beyond that, the Elantra is also a more reliable option among sedans, with repair costs at $452 a year. Plus, it holds the same 4-star safety score as most other cars near the top of the list.

4. Nissan Versa

The Nissan Versa tied with the Elantra, also costing $1,757 a year to keep fueled. Like the cars ahead of it, the Versa avoided the worst of the price hikes, with its yearly fuel bill climbing by just $394 since last year. Owners also don’t pay much to keep it running, spending around $456 a year on repairs. And with a 4-star safety rating, new drivers won’t be giving up much to save money on gas.

5. Nissan Sentra

Nissan Sentra rounds out the top five most affordable cars to drive, costing $1,809 a year to keep fueled. This is a $406 jump from last year, but it’s still far less than what bigger vehicles saw. The Sentra holds a 4-star safety rating, and while its $491 yearly repair bill is relatively higher, it still costs far less to maintain than most SUVs and trucks on American roads.

Automotive industry experts from Rerev commented on the study:

“If you’re trying to cut down on what you spend at the pump, trading in an SUV or truck for another one won’t make much of a difference. This is exactly why every single car in our top 10 list is a sedan or hatchback. Take the Ford Expedition as an example: its owners saw their yearly fuel bill jump by $726 this year alone. Cars like the Dodge Durango and Honda Ridgeline also cost $650 more to fuel now. Bigger vehicles simply burn more gas no matter how new or well-built they are, so if lowering your fuel costs is the goal, we recommend looking at more compact-size options.”