Gas prices are going up, so fuel economy is a major consideration when shopping for a new car. But not everyone wants a hybrid. Yes, the semi-electric vehicles will get more miles per gallon than gas-only options, but there are downsides to consider too.
The main negative with a hybrid powertrain centers on the battery. It won’t last forever, and it’s a very expensive component to replace. This tends to hit the resale value of hybrid vehicles, as buyers know they’re going to have to switch that battery pack out eventually and it’s going to cost them.
This is a bit of a worst of both worlds situation. You’re reliant on a very expensive component that will probably need replacing within ten or so years. But unlike with EVs, you have an engine that needs to be maintained in the meantime. So if you don’t want to go electric, but still want to save on gas, good old ICE engines are probably your best bet.
ICE options tend to be cheaper to buy initially too, with the vehicles listed below also ranking as some of the least expensive you can get in 2026. Which is refreshing as a lot of affordable options have disappeared in recent years.
While you won’t be pushing past 50 MPG like you can with some hybrids, or getting 100+ “MPGe” like certain electric powertrains, there are still some solid options when it comes to gas only fuel economy. Here are the top five in 2026.
2026 Honda Civic LX
The most economical gas only car in 2026 is the Honda Civic LX. Honda’s popular hatchback is powered by a 2-liter inline four that sips away at the gas tank. That is, if you get the LX trim. A sport trim will see that fuel economy drop by a couple of MPG, and the high-performance Civic Type R is a gas guzzler in comparison.
With the LX trim, you can expect to get 36 MPG combined from the Civic. That breaks down to 32 MPG in the city, and 41 on a highway. Nothing else on this list beats the Civic in either category, though some do tie. If you want the best all-rounder, and don’t mind paying a little extra, this is the best option as far as ICE vehicles are concerned
The Honda Civic LX has an MSRP of $24,695 before fees and taxes are added. That makes it the most expensive option on this list, though you may make the price difference back at the pump if you drive a lot.
2026 Toyota Corolla LE
Coming in at a very close (but joint) second is the 2026 Toyota Corolla LE. As with the Honda Civic, it gets 32 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway. But due to how the EPA rounds things when testing fuel economy numbers, the Japanese sedan gets 35 MPG combined instead of 36.
It’s still a very impressive score for an ICE only vehicle, and there isn’t much between the 2026 ‘Rolla and our winner. The base model LE packs a 2-liter naturally aspirated inline-four under the hood, like many other vehicles listed here. The more expensive trims are slightly more powerful, but drop at least one mile per gallon because of that. If you mainly care about fuel economy, buy the base trim.
A Toyota Corolla LE has a base MSRP of $22,995, meaning it almost matches the Civic when it comes to fuel consumption but is almost $2,000 cheaper.
2026 Hyundai Elantra SE
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra SE comes in joint second, matching the Corolla’s 35 MPG combined. However, it gets one mile per gallon less in the city and on the highway. That’s 31 MPG city, 40 highway respectively. Again this is due to how the EPA calculates and rounds things, so there isn’t a lot between the top three. Even though Toyota may feel a little hard done by.
With a base MSRP of $22,695 the Hyundai Elantra SE is one of the more affordable vehicles on this list. Despite the price tag, it’s a pretty average modern sedan. You get decent enough cargo space, a modern infotainment system, and a few bits of safety tech thrown in too.
2026 Volkswagen Jetta S
The only non-Asian car on this list is the Volkswagen Jetta S. The small German sedan just nudges into fourth place, with a fuel economy of 33 MPG combined. That breaks down to 29 MPG in the city, and 40 on the highway. The latter score matches the joint second place Hyundai Elantra SE.
It’s also the only vehicle on this list without a 2-liter engine. Volkswagen has opted for a 1.5 liter turbocharged inline-four instead.
The Volkswagen Jetta S has an MSRP of $23.995 before fees, making it one of the pricier options on this list.
Either the 2026 Kia K4 or Nissan Sentra
In fifth place, we have a tie between the Nissan Sentra and the Kia K4. Both vehicles boast an EPA estimated average or 33 MPG combined, but both vehicles achieve it in slightly different ways. The Kia K4 is slightly better on a highway, racking up an impressive 38 MPG there, but does suffer slightly in an urban environment. The Korean vehicle only gets 29 MPG in the city. The Sentra is pretty much the opposite, racking up 30 MPG in the city, but dropping one mile per gallon against the K4 on the highway.
When it comes to which you should buy, both vehicles are fairly similar though the Kia might have the edge in terms of tech and styling. The more advanced IVT transmission in the Kia K4 is yet another advantage the Korean vehicle has. A Kia K4 LX is also a little cheaper than a Sentra S, though not by much. Before destination, the Kia will set you back $22,290 while a Sentra S costs $22,600.
