The most fuel-efficient cars in Canada [2026]

Top 10 most fuel-efficient cars in Canada (2026 model year)

This list contains the 10 most fuel-efficient cars available in Canada for the 2026 model year. Fuel economy is listed first in litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km), then in miles per gallon (MPG). Rather than separating city and highway mileage, values are listed using the combined rating, which assumes 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.²

Where one model has different trim levels with different fuel consumption ratings, they have been combined, with the most efficient rating listed. The exception is trim levels with major differences, like hybrid vs. non-hybrid or sedan vs. crossover versions; these remain separate.

The top 10 vehicles are (not surprisingly) all hybrids. There’s just no way for a comparably sized, gas-only vehicle to match the efficiency of a hybrid. If you’re set on a non-hybrid model, look at the second list below.

The fuel economy ratings are based on data from Natural Resources Canada, available here. Note that some model descriptions and availability may differ from the manufacturer’s advertised information.

Vehicle	L/100 km	MPG
1. Kia Niro FE	4.4	53
2. Toyota Corolla Hybrid	4.7	50
3. Toyota Prius AWD	4.8	49
4. Toyota Camry	5.0	47
5. Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid AWD	5.6	42
6. Toyota Crown Limited	5.7	41
7. Ford Escape Hybrid	6.0	39
8. Lexus NX 350h	6.0	39
9. Lexus RX 350h	6.5	36
10. Toyota Sienna	6.6	36

Most fuel-efficient non-hybrid models

Vehicle	L/100 km	MPG
1. Toyota Corolla	6.7	35
2. Volkswagen Jetta	7.2	33
3. Mini Cooper	7.4	32
4. Toyota Corolla Cross	7.4	32
5. Nissan Kicks	7.4	32
6. Volkswagen Taos	7.4	32

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Most fuel-efficient vehicles by type

Unsurprisingly, most of the top vehicles for fuel economy are cars. What if you want something bigger? What if you’re only interested in compacts? Here are the most fuel-efficient vehicles, separated by type.

Most fuel-efficient compact cars

Vehicle	L/100 km	MPG
1. Toyota Corolla Hybrid	4.7	50
2. Toyota Corolla	6.7	35
3. Toyota Corolla Hatchback	6.8	35
4. Volkswagen Jetta	7.2	33
5. MINI Cooper	7.4	32
6. Mazda Mazda3 4-Door	7.8	30
7. BMW 330i xDrive Sedan	8.0	29
8. BMW M340i xDrive Sedan	8.2	29
9. Volkswagen Golf GTI	8.8	27
10. Cadillac CT4 RWD	9.1	24

Most fuel-efficient SUVs and station wagons

Vehicle	L/100 km	MPG
1. Kia Niro FE	4.4	53
2. Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid AWD	5.6	42
3. Lexus NX 350h AWD	6.0	39
4. Ford Escape Hybrid AWD	6.0	39
5. Lexus RX 350h AWD	6.5	36
6. Kia Sportage Hybrid AWD	6.7	35
7. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid AWD	6.9	34
8. Kia Sorento Hybrid AWD	7.0	35
9. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD	7.0	34
10. Volkswagen Taos	7.4	32

Most fuel-efficient pickup trucks

Vehicle	L/100 km	MPG
1. Ford Maverick Hybrid	6.2	38
2. Chevrolet Silverado (diesel)	9.3	25
3. GMC Sierra (diesel)	9.3	25
4. Ford Maverick (non-hybrid)	9.4	25
5. Toyota Tacoma Hybrid 4WD	10.1	23
6. GMC Sierra 4WD (diesel)	10.1	23
7. Chevrolet Silverado 4WD (diesel)	10.1	23
8. Chevrolet Silverado 4WD ZR2 (diesel)	11.1	21
9. Chevrolet Colorado	11.1	21
10. Ford F-150	11.2	21

What affects fuel economy?

There are many factors that cause a vehicle to burn more or less fuel to cover the same distance. By understanding which things affect your car’s fuel consumption, you can improve your fuel efficiency by quite a lot.

Vehicle factors

Fuel efficiency varies enormously between vehicles — that’s the whole point of this article. But which specific design factors make the difference?

• Vehicle weight. Heavier vehicles need more energy to get them rolling. They also have a higher rolling resistance, increasing the energy required to keep them moving.
• Aerodynamics. Wind resistance increases the amount of energy a vehicle needs to move, especially at high speeds. If you have roof racks or other external gear, remove it when you’re not using it. Open windows also increase drag.³
• Fuel type. Diesel vehicles are typically more fuel-efficient than gas vehicles.⁴ Of course, hybrids tend to be more fuel efficient than either.
• Transmission. Generally, modern conventional automatic or continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) are slightly more fuel efficient than manual transmissions.⁵
• Enhancements. Technologies such as cylinder deactivation systems and idle start-stop can improve a vehicle’s fuel economy, as can a turbocharger, providing you drive it moderately most of the time.⁶
• Maintenance. Keeping up with regular maintenance keeps fuel efficiency high. For example, misaligned tires, clogged air filters, or worn spark plugs can all increase fuel consumption.

Operational factors

A person’s driving habits significantly affect their fuel economy. Fortunately, many of the driving habits that improve fuel consumption also correlate with safe driving (and, hopefully, lower car insurance premiums in the big picture).

• City vs. highway. There’s a reason fuel ratings are usually separated this way: driving in the city uses way more fuel, thanks to endless acceleration and braking cycles.Hybrids are an exception and they generally get better fuel economy in city driving, since it gives them more opportunity to run on electricity alone.
• Acceleration. Rapid acceleration uses more fuel than gentle acceleration. For improved fuel economy, it should take about five seconds to reach 20 km/h from a standstill.⁷
• Steady speeds. While cruising, try to maintain a steady speed, as varying one’s cruising speed even by 10 km/h can increase fuel usage significantly. Cruise control can be very helpful here.
• Braking. Aggressive braking wastes your forward momentum. Pay attention to what’s far in front of you and try to coast to a stop wherever possible.
• Air conditioning. Using the air conditioner can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%.⁸
• Idling. An idling engine burns about 0.6 litres per hour per litre of engine displacement.⁹ For a 2-litre engine, that’s just 37.5 hours of idling to waste a whole 45-litre tank of fuel.

Commonly asked questions

Are there any government rebates for fuel-efficient cars?

The federal iZEV rebate program, which offered rebates for zero-emission vehicles, was paused on January 12, 2025, after all its available funds were allocated.¹⁰

A few provinces and territories offer various rebates or incentives, though some (like BC’s) have been paused as well.

• Yukon
• Manitoba
• Quebec
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island

Are there any tax incentives for fuel-efficient cars?

Tax incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles are mostly unavailable in Canada.

In BC, electric vehicles (including certain plug-in hybrids) have more agreeable price thresholds and provincial sales tax rates when they’re purchased.

Are fuel prices correlated with car insurance prices?

There is no direct correlation between fuel prices, fuel economy, and car insurance pricing. However, there may be some indirect connections. For example, high gas prices lead many Canadians to drive less often.¹¹

For an individual, a change in driving habits may result in lower premiums if the change is big enough. If you find yourself driving less often, check with your car insurance provider to see how they categorize vehicle usage and whether you’d qualify for lower premiums.

In the big picture, fewer vehicles on the road should mean fewer accidents, fewer claims, and reduced claim costs for insurers.

Sources

1. Statistics Canada. “Monthly Average Retail Prices for Gasoline and Fuel Oil, by Geography.” www150.statcan.gc.ca, 21 October 2025, www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1810000101.
2. Natural Resources Canada. “Understanding the Tables.” natural-resources.canada.ca, 29 October 2025, natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-energy-efficiency/personal-vehicles/understanding-tables.
3. Bober, Isaac. “Myth-Busting: Lowering the Windows Uses More Fuel Than Air-Con?” Practical Motoring, 22 January 2018, practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/myth-busting-lowering-windows-uses-fuel-air-con.
4. Fenske, Jason. “Gasoline vs. Diesel: What’s the Difference?” Road & Track, 24 July 2017, www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a10350174/gasoline-vs-diesel-whats-the-difference.
5. Natural Resources Canada. “Auto$mart.” natural-resources.canada.ca, 2014, natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/oee/pdf/transportation/fuel-efficient-technologies/autosmart_factsheet_13_e.pdf. Accessed 26 September 2025.
6. Natural Resources Canada. “Factors That Affect Fuel Efficiency.” natural-resources.canada.ca, 15 January 2025, natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-energy-efficiency/personal-vehicles/factors-affect-fuel-efficiency.
7. Natural Resources Canada. “Fuel-efficient Driving Techniques.” natural-resources.canada.ca, 23 December 2024, natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-energy-efficiency/personal-vehicles/fuel-efficient-driving-techniques.
8. Natural Resources Canada. “Auto$mart.” natural-resources.canada.ca, 2014, natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/oee/pdf/transportation/fuel-efficient-technologies/autosmart_factsheet_1_e.pdf. Accessed 26 September 2025.
9. “Don’t Let Your Engine Idle.” ecomobile.gouv.qc.ca, 2023, ecomobile.gouv.qc.ca/en/ecomobilite/tips/idling_engine.php. Accessed 25 September 2025.
10. Transport Canada. “Questions and Answers.” tc.canada.ca, 26 August 2025, tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/innovative-technologies/zero-emission-vehicles/incentives-zero-emission-vehicles/questions-answers.
11. Holliday, Ian. “Survey Finds Most Canadians Driving Less Due to High Gas Prices.” CTV News, 27 March 2022, www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/survey-finds-most-canadians-driving-less-due-to-high-gas-prices/.

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