Most fuel-efficient cars: 1993 to 2013

Mileage: 53 mpg combined

The most fuel-efficient car on our list, Honda's first hybrid scored record mileage thanks to its small size and ultrasmooth aerodynamics. Rear wheel skirts, a tiny 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine, two seats and a compact, uncomplicated battery-electric powertrain led to phenomenal gas mileage. With optional air conditioning and only 73 horsepower, the Insight remained a niche vehicle — especially in 2003, with gas averaging $1.59 per gallon.

2013 Honda Insight

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Mileage: 50 mpg combined

Among its many tricks, the latest Toyota Prius can recirculate the exhaust heat to warm its engine more quickly, and thus switch it off sooner for greater fuel savings. No other gasoline- or diesel-powered car currently on sale can match the Prius, other than the new Prius c subcompact, which achieves slightly better city fuel economy.

2013 Toyota Prius

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Mileage: 47 mpg combined

Unless a pending EPA investigation finds otherwise, the C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid are rated at 47 mpg on both city and highway tests. That's better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Prius V. Ford's powertrain lets the cars reach up to 62 mph on electric power, more than double the speed of the Toyotas.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid

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Mileage: 47 mpg combined

In 2008, when gas prices soared to a record high average of more than $4 per gallon, crazy people started buying decrepit Geo Metros in hopes of saving a few bucks. The Geo Metro, a popular General Motors hatchback, weighed 1,621 pounds — about ton less than most modern subcompacts. Its puny 3-cylinder engine mustering 49 horsepower was amazingly efficient.

1997 Geo Metro

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Mileage: 46 mpg combined

The second-generation Prius defined hybrid style, for better or worse, with its egg-shaped hatchback body. Like the latest Prius, no car could beat it on efficiency. Acceleration was abysmal — zero to 60 in about 11 seconds — the handling was dreadful and the interior was cheap. Its reliability and resale value, however, continue to lead the hybrid segment.

2013 Toyota Prius

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Mileage: 45 mpg combined

The new Lincoln MKZ is supposed to reinvent Lincoln's entire image. While that might be a lost cause, there's no doubt the MKZ Hybrid is a comfy, somewhat exotic-looking luxury sedan — plus, the its 45 mpg rating is superb. An added 200 pounds of sound-deadening and luxury equipment reduces the MKZ's EPA rating to 45 mpg versus the 47 mpg of its sibling, the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

2013 Lincoln MKZ

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Mileage: 45 mpg combined

Unlike most hybrids, the new Volkswagen Jetta doesn't use a continuously variable transmission. Instead, it uses a sporty 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox like that on the Audi S7. The turbocharged engine is also unusual. We haven't driven this car yet, but we're confident it'll be more fun than a Toyota Prius.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta

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Mileage: 44 mpg combined

The latest Civic Hybrid outperforms Honda's two signature hybrids, the Insight and the Honda CR-Z, without the former's poor refinement or the latter's compromised space. It's also more expensive, thanks to a superior lithium-ion battery and a more powerful electric motor.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

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Mileage: 43 mpg combined

Honda's sequel to the beloved CRX hatchback, discontinued after 1991, came in 1995 with the Civic VX hatchback. This model, which included a shift-indicator light to encourage low-rev shifts, was rated at 43 mpg, making it the most fuel-efficient Civic in this era. It's not uncommon to see these cars purring on highways today, even with a few hundred thousand miles on the clock.

2013 Honda Civic

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Mileage: 42 mpg combined

In Europe, the new Prius V includes a third row to allow up to seven passengers. That makes sense. In the United States, the Prius V offers no real improvement over the standard Prius in interior space while delivering poorer fuel economy. Tell us, does that make sense? Of course, "poor" is a relative term, since a 42-mpg rating is nothing to sneeze at.

2013 Toyota Prius V

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Mileage: 42 mpg combined

The Insight is the lowest-priced hybrid on sale — but only by a few hundred dollars less than the Prius c. Still, it's roomy like the standard Prius and costs $5,600 less. However, the Prius is a better car, both at the gas pump and on the road.

2013 Honda Insight

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Mileage: 42 mpg combined

While this Lexus hatchback strikes us as awkward rather than appealing, nearly 18,000 were sold in 2012 — more than double the number of Audi A3s. One caveat: The CT 200h is not the sporty car it pretends to be, but it's decently quick and more efficient in city cycles than the diesel-powered A3 TDI.

2013 Lexus CT 200h

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Mileage: 41 mpg combined

The first Prius wasn't very popular when it debuted in Japan in 1997, or when it arrived in the U.S. three years later. But unlike Honda, Toyota's approach to hybrids — with four doors and a more advanced powertrain — paid off. Two generations later, the Prius name has outsold every other hybrid and is now the third-most-popular car in the world.

2013 Toyota Prius

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Mileage: 41 mpg combined

In response to the roomier Prius, Honda introduced the Civic Hybrid for 2003 with an equal fuel-economy rating. Unlike the record-setting Insight, the first Civic Hybrid was just like a regular Civic — practical, spacious and normal-looking. The most efficient models were equipped with manual transmissions and 4-cylinder engines with "lean burn" specifications.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

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Mileage: 41 mpg combined

The Camry Hybrid, while much improved over the first model's 34-mpg rating, still can't beat the Ford Fusion Hybrid in efficiency. But Ford can't brag all night, either. The Camry, hybrid or not, outsells every passenger car in the country year after year.

2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid

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Mileage: 40 mpg combined

For buyers who want a fully loaded Camry Hybrid but need a little more under their cushion, there's the all-new Avalon Hybrid and the Lexus ES 300h. Both cars provide more luxury features and technology — including an industry-first wireless charging pad for cellphones — plus added power and refinement.

2013 Lexus ES 300h

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Mileage: 40 mpg combined

With Geo eliminated for the 1998 model year, GM continued building the 3-cylinder Metro as a Chevrolet. Later Metro models returned even fewer mpgs and were finally discontinued in 2001. Let's be honest: Fuel efficiency is the only good thing going for this econobox.

2000 Chevrolet Metro

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Mileage: 39 mpg combined

Despite the Ford Escape Hybrid's success, the Fusion Hybrid demonstrated that Ford could build a world-class, fuel-efficient sedan that was better than a Toyota. The engineers got a little corny with the digital leaves that "grew" on the dash when the driver was light on the throttle.

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

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Mileage: 38 mpg combined

Diesel-powered Volkswagens have been a staple in this country for decades. The most fuel-efficient VW in the past 20 years was the 2003 Golf and Jetta TDI (2004 models dropped to 36 mpg combined, and the latest models get 34 mpg). Unlike hybrids, these VW diesels are legendary on the highway, often achieving more than 50 mpg.

2013 Volkswagen Golf

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Mileage: 37 mpg combined

This minicompact has the most airbags of any car in the world — 11 at last count. It's not the most fuel-efficient car, yet the rear seat and front engine configuration make it more of a real car than a smart fortwo. In its first year, the Scion iQ was just 1,000 sales short of the fortwo, which has been on the market since 2008.

2013 Scion iQ

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Mileage: 37 mpg combined

The CR-Z is not quite the sporty CRX successor Honda would have you believe. But it is fun to drive, because it's the only hybrid on sale with a manual transmission, plus the 2-seat hatchback design evokes the company's original Insight.

2013 Honda CR-Z

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Mileage: 36 mpg combined

Considering its puny size, you might expect the smart fortwo to return stellar fuel economy. But the fortwo's 3-cylinder engine has to work overtime to get the car up to speed, and without the European diesel engine — which we'll likely never see — the fortwo will stay a niche vehicle. Still and all, 36 mpg isn't bad, but without a back seat or a proper trunk, wouldn't you want more?

2012 Smart fortwo

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Mileage: 36 mpg combined

A 1996 Civic HX might not be as safe as a smart fortwo, but it's cheap and returns the same EPA-rated fuel economy. Later Civic models didn't score as high as the HX — and neither does its current successor, the Civic HF — but the fact that four Civics are on our list says a lot about how miserly this little car really is.

2013 Honda Civic

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Mileage: 36 mpg combined

Hyundai and Kia delivered their first hybrids in striking packages. Their powertrains of the Sonata Hybrid and Optima Hybrid were not as refined or as efficient as those from Toyota and Ford, yet the lithium-polymer batteries were supposedly lighter and more compact.

2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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Mileage: 35 mpg combined

The Passat TDI is the biggest car on this list, and the fact that it can deliver 35 mpg is mighty impressive (get the manual; the automatic does 34 mpg). With deft handling and impressive build quality for $27,000 — plus a claimed 795-mile highway range — this is the car we'd take across the country.

2013 Volkswagen Passat

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Mileage: 35 mpg combined

Battered by dismal sales, the Lexus HS 250h was discontinued in January 2012. Compared with the Lexus CT 200h, the HS was pricier and worse on gas. Perhaps you could pick one up for a good price, if you don't mind the stumpy-looking body.

2012 Lexus HS 250h

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For more information on the vehicles in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Honda Insight
-Toyota Prius c
-Ford C-Max
-Geo Metro
-Toyota Prius
-Lincoln MKZ
-Volkswagen Jetta
-Honda Civic Hybrid
-Honda Civic
-Toyota Prius V
-Lexus CT 200h
-Toyota Camry Hybrid
-Toyota Avalon
-Chevrolet Metro
-Ford Fusion Hybrid
-Volkswagen Golf
-Scion iQ
-Honda CR-Z
-smart fortwo
-Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
-Volkswagen Passat
-Lexus HS 250h

Clifford Atiyeh has spent his entire life driving cars he doesn't own. Based in Boston, he is the senior news editor for MSN Autos, and contributes to The Boston Globe, Car and Driver, and other publications.