The Most Efficient Sports Cars Of All Time

Performance and fuel-efficiency may sound like an oxymoron in the automotive world, but such cars do exist. Modern CO2 emissions requirements have forced engineers to make all cars more environmentally friendly. This has resulted in modern features like the addition of direct injection, variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation, and other tech to be integrated in modern power plants. Mazda’s SKYACTIV engines also featured in the Mazda MX-5 Miata, are a great example of fuel-efficiency that doesn’t come at the cost of performance, as they already cover the upcoming, even more stringent emissions regulations that are yet to be introduced.

Even Muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro introduced cylinder deactivation in their pushrod V-8s to save fuel and a few more polar bears. Whether CO2 is the leading cause of melting ice caps is an academic topic and one we won’t be getting into. With that said, fuel economy is welcome regardless of which car segment we are talking about, especially for those of us who prefer not to go to the gas station every other day. Luckily, even sports cars can be fuel-efficient without sacrificing the fun factor, and the models listed below are the most fuel-efficient, currently, on the market.

RELATED: 5 Ways to Improve Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

1 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Average Fuel Economy: 30 MPG

It’s hardly a surprise the Mazda Miata is on the list. With a low curb weight of as little as 2,260 pounds (1,025 kg), a naturally aspirated four-cylinder, and a nimble chassis, it’s no surprise the Mazda MX-5 Miata is the most fuel-efficient sports car you can buy. In its fourth generation, we can also talk about decent power levels as the SkyActiv-G engine makes over 90 horsepower per liter.

Mazda MX-5 Miata Specifications

Furthermore, Mazda promises that the next iteration of this platform will produce at least 100 horsepower per liter as part of a mild-hybrid architecture. Even so, the ND MX-5 is a fun sports car that is, both, engaging and easy on the wallet. The less-engaging automatic achieves 1.0 MPG more on a highway run, but let’s pretend we didn’t see that. In addition to being the most fuel-efficient sports car, it’s also, currently, the most affordable one you can buy.

2 BMW Z4 30i

Average Fuel Economy: 28 MPG

The G29 generation of the BMW Z4 is somewhat overshadowed by its Japanese counterpart, the GR Supra. While the B58-powered inline-six models are the focal point here, it is the smaller, B48 that’s more fuel-efficient. In the Z4 30i, the turbo-four mill produces enough power to be within half a second of much more expensive models. Moreover, the engine has enough tuning potential to get close to its six-cylinder counterparts in terms of power, all while staying reliable.

BMW Z4 30i Specifications

Unlike its technological twin, the GR Supra, the BMW Z4 comes, exclusively, as a soft-top convertible and not a hardtop coupe. Even so, the Z4 G29 manages an average EPA rating that’s 1.0 MPG higher than the equivalent GR Supra. The six-cylinder versions of the cars are tied at 26 combined MPG EPA, which is not far off the base engine’s fuel economy.

3 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Average Fuel Economy: 27 MPG

The bestseller from Germany is not the first hot hatchback, but it is considered the model that succeeded in popularizing it. While calling hot hatchbacks sports cars is debatable, the popularity of the segment caused the extinction of the compact, front-wheel-drive coupe segment, effectively taking its market niche. The front-wheel-drive hot hatch retains all the practicality of the regular model, but with chassis enhancements to match the torquey, generation 3, EA888, turbo-four engine.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Specifications

The manual is more engaging, but the DSG achieves 1.0 MPG better fuel economy on average. Perhaps, even more impressive is the fact, that the all-wheel-drive Golf R, which packs a more powerful version of the same engine, achieves only 1.0 MPG less than the DSG-equipped GTI, at 26 MPG combined.

Related: The Best Affordable Sports Cars On The Market Today

4 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Average Fuel Economy: 27 MPG

Alfa Romeo’s first rear-wheel-drive, sports sedan in 30 years took the segment by storm. It quickly proved you don’t necessarily need to go German or Japanese to grab a sports-luxury sedan. While Giulia puts a bit more emphasis on the sports aspect, its interior is still worthy of a premium brand. When coupled with a nimble chassis, punchy, turbo-four engine, and one of the best traditional automatic transmissions, currently, in production, you get a very capable package from an unlikely place.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Specifications

The Giorgio platform is the same one that underpins the Stelvio SUV and instills confidence even when driving spiritedly, while the turbo-four engine comes, from the factory, with forged internals. All-wheel drive is optional and comes at the cost of 1.0 MPG combined compared to the rear-wheel-drive model.

Related: Alfa Romeo’s MEGA Plans For The Giulia Quadrifoglio Could Be A Game-Changer For The Italian Brand

5 Toyota GR Supra

Average Fuel Economy: 27 MPG

Toyota and BMW’s partnership combined with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s motorsport expertise spawned a new iteration of the JDM icon that is the Supra. While Toyota never hid the GR Supra’s BMW roots, which are even more apparent in the interior, there’s no denying that even the four-cylinder GR Supra can give the old one a run for its money.

Toyota GR Supra Specifications

In 2022, Toyota introduced a manual version of the GR Supra. That, however, is only available for the 3.0-liter model, leaving the ZF automatic as the sole option for the four-banger. Still, the German transmission does wonders for fuel economy as even the six-cylinder GR Supra manages 26 combined MPG, EPA – just 1.0 MPG more than the B48-engined model.

Related: 10 Awesome Alternatives To The Toyota GR Supra

6 Toyota GR86/ Subaru BRZ

Average Fuel Economy: 25 MPG

Boxer engines may be known for their low center of gravity, compared to their V-arranged or inline counterparts, but fuel economy was never their forte. Still, with an EPA rating of 25 MPG combined, the Toyota GR86 and its technological twin, the Subaru BRZ, are among the most fuel-efficient sports cars you can buy. Compared to the four-cylinder GR Supra we mentioned above, the number doesn’t seem impressive, but the GR86 is a simpler, more old-school driving experience by comparison.

Toyota GR86 Specifications

Its nimble chassis, low curb weight, and mechanical, limited-slip differential, which is standard, make it the perfect car for canyons and mountain passes, just like its forbearer, the Corolla AE86. Sadly, that 25 MPG combined is only achievable with the less-engaging automatic. The pleasure of shifting gears yourself will cost you 3.0 MPG, but who cares?

RELATED: 10 Things Nobody Realizes About Owning A Sports Car

7 Mercedes AMG SL43

Average Fuel Economy: 24 MPG

We could have just as easily put the AMG A45 super-hatchback here, but we decided to go with a proper sports car, hence the inclusion of the AMG SL43. The seventh-generation Mercedes luxury roadster is the first one entirely developed by AMG, and in turn, the most athletic one, by a long shot. The chassis is the same as the AMG GT, but it shares its base engine with the AMG A45.

Mercedes AMG SL43 Specifications

It is the M139 turbo-four, which like in all other Mercedes models from 2022 onward, is aided by a 48-Volt mild-hybrid system. It’s called the EQ Boost and adds an electric motor with 14 horsepower and 110 pound-feet (150 Nm) that aids the turbo-four engine when it’s not at its most efficient work cycle. Whether you want to pay over $100,000 for a four-cylinder Mercedes is a different question, but at least you’ll save on fuel.

8 Toyota GR Corolla

Average Fuel Economy: 24 MPG

The number 24 will be a recurring one for the next few entries on the list, starting with Toyota’s rally-inspired hot hatchback. The GR Corolla builds upon the hype of the homologation special that is the GR Yaris. The hot Corolla carries over much of the rally-bred GR Yaris’ suspension geometry as well as the GR-Four, all-wheel-drive system. Limited-slip differentials are optional for the base model and standard for all other trims.

Toyota GR Corolla Specifications

The G16-GTS engine, currently, boasts the highest specific output of any three-cylinder engine put in a production car and is even more powerful in the GR Corolla. Despite the full-time all-wheel-drive system and highly-strung turbo-three unit, the GR Corolla is still easy on fuel when driven sensibly, as confirmed by the EPA rating.

9 Honda Civic Type-R

Average Fuel Economy: 24 MPG

For 2024, the Honda Civic Type-R went for a more mature design and a more premium interior. But don’t think for a second it’s grown fat and sluggish. The same K20 turbo-four engine has received a bump in output, which is most apparent in the mid-range. It hasn’t come at the cost of fuel economy either since, the 2024 Civic Type-R gets the same EPA estimates as the outgoing model.

Honda Civic Type-R Specifications

As always, a manual transmission is the only option and a helical, limited-slip differential is standard, to minimize wheelspin. The FL5 Civic Type-R utilizes the FK8’s hardware and improves every aspect of it, resulting in the Japanese hot hatch, once again, being the fastest front-wheel-drive car around Nurburgring’s Nordschleife.

Related: 10 Best Attainable Mid-Engined Sports Cars Every Enthusiast Should Own

10 Porsche 718

Average Fuel Economy: 24 MPG

Porsche’s current iteration of an entry-level, mid-engine sports car dates back to 1996. And while fans, initially, met it with reserve, it proved to be the brand’s saving grace and a sales success. Over 20 years later, the car we know as the 718 Cayman/ Boxster (depending on the body style) is considered, by some, to be a better sports car than the flagship 911, at least in some of its many versions. While there is a 718 for every taste and budget, the base model requires the least amount of fuel to put a smile on your face.

Porsche 718 Specifications

The flat-four was received with mixed feelings and frankly, it sounds almost like a base-model Subaru, but performance is still there, and it doesn’t come at the cost of miles per gallon. The base 718 is no longer available with a manual transmission, but that’s okay, because the PDK is, both, quicker and more fuel-efficient.