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2004 Volkswagen Golf TDI
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2004 Volkswagen Golf TDI

2004 Honda Civic
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2004 Honda Civic

2004 Toyota Echo
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2004 Toyota Echo

2004 Mini Cooper
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2004 Mini Cooper

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
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2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

Top 10 Lists

Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Non-Hybrid Cars for 2004
By Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor , Edmunds.com
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We've compiled a list of the 10 most fuel-efficient gasoline- and diesel-powered (non-hybrid) cars currently sold in the U.S. based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel. As you can see, when you remove the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius from the top three spots, you get several new vehicles in slots 8-10, including the Mini Cooper, Mazda 3 and Chevrolet Cavalier.

In order to arrive at a final hierarchy, we used the EPA's combined fuel economy formula: 55 percent of the city mpg rating plus 45 percent of the highway mpg rating. The rating for each vehicle below is expressed in miles per gallon as a city/highway ratio.

  1. Volkswagen Golf TDI — 38/46
    Volkswagen Jetta TDI — 38/46
    Volkswagen New Beetle TDI — 38/46


  2. Honda Civic — 36/44


  3. Toyota Echo — 35/43


  4. Toyota Corolla — 32/40


  5. Scion xA — 32/38


  6. Scion xB — 31/35


  7. Dodge Neon — 29/36
    Pontiac Vibe — 29/36
    Toyota Celica — 29/36
    Toyota Matrix — 29/36

  8. Mini Cooper — 28/37


  9. Mazda 3 — 28/35
    Mitsubishi Lancer — 28/35
    Nissan Sentra — 28/35


  10. Chevrolet Cavalier — 26/37
    Oldsmobile Alero — 26/37
    Pontiac Grand Am — 26/37
    Pontiac Sunfire — 26/37


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