Car shoppers place efficiency on the top of their priority list when looking for a new car. According to a survey from Statista, vehicle efficiency is the second most important factor just behind vehicle safety. With the fluctuation of gas prices and desire for shoppers to cut down on monthly gas expenses, fuel efficiency is a need for many. Since the average new car costs $39,000, per Kelly Blue Book, this article will list the most efficient cars under $40,000.
Quick note before we get started, each vehicle in this list is an electric vehicle (EV). That is because electric cars are much more efficient than ICE (Internal Combustion Engine or “gas”) cars. Rather than MPG, the EPA rates EV efficiency by MPGe (Miles per Gallon Equivalent) since there is no gas with an EV, but, rather, an on-board rechargeable battery. In brief, one gallon of gasoline contains 33.7 kWh of energy. Therefore, EVs must use this conversion so we can compare apples to apples. You can read more about this over at CleanTechnica.
With that aside, let’s take a look at the most efficient cars sold in 2020.
Most Efficient Cars Under $40,000:
#1: 2020 Tesla Model 3 (Standard Range Plus) – 141 MPGe
MPGe: 141
Cost: $39,990
Annual Charging Cost: $450
Range: 250
Edmunds Review
#2: 2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric – 133 MPGe
MPGe: 133
Cost: $33,045 ($25,545 after Federal Electric Vehicle Tax Credit)
Annual Charging Cost: $500
Range: 170
Edmunds Review
#3: 2020 Toyota Prius Prime (Plug-in Hybrid) – 133 MPGe
