15 Best Fuel-Efficient Cars Under $30K That Are Totally Worth Buying

The sticker price of a car isn’t the only cost you should consider when budgeting for a new vehicle. Gas can also be a significant expense. 

A gas guzzler can cost you a lot of cash over time, making it difficult to get ahead financially. On the other hand, a fuel-efficient car can cut gas costs significantly every year. 

Here are some fuel-sipping cars under $30,000 that you might want to consider buying.

The Volkswagen Jetta offers a stylish car with German engineering without the expensive cost of more popular German car models.

The Jetta can get you an estimated 29 miles per gallon in the city and 42 on the highway. 

Its starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $21,435, which is reasonable and can help lower your financial stress.

The Toyota Camry is tough to beat if you’re looking for a dependable car with a good reputation.

The Camry was one of the best-selling cars in 2022, and the 2024 model has a starting MSRP of $26,420. The comfortable-to-drive Camry also gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway.

Check out a Subaru Legacy if you want an affordable and safe car. The model was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

You get 27 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on the highway. The Legacy does come with all-wheel drive (AWD), which can cut into your fuel budget when it’s activated.

The Subaru Legacy has a starting MSRP of $24,895.

SUVs don’t always get great gas mileage, but there are exceptions you can pick for less than $30,000. The Ford Escape, for example, comes with a MSRP of $29,495.

The Escape Active model with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway. The 2.5-liter hybrid engine gets you 42 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles on the highway.

The Honda Civic was another of the best-selling cars in 2022. The 2024 sedan has an MSRP of $23,950.

The car gets 31 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway, making it a great car if you need to save money when filling up your tank.

The Hyundai Elantra is a sedan for budget-conscious drivers who want a car with both an affordable price tag and low fuel costs.

The car gets an estimated 32 miles per gallon in the city and 41 on the highway. Pick up an Elantra for an MSRP of $21,625.

The Kia Forte’s MSRP of $19,990 makes it one of the cheaper vehicles you'll find on the market.

The Forte LX, the model’s cheapest option, gets an estimated 30 miles per gallon in the city and 41 on the highway.

The Chevy Trailblazer is a great option if you want a small SUV that offers good visibility for the driver.

The Trailblazer gets an estimated 29 miles per gallon in the city or 33 on the highway and has a starting MSRP of $23,100.

The Mitsubishi Mirage is a compact hatchback that is a great option for those who want a low purchase price and to save on the cost of gas.

The Mirage has an MSRP of $16,695, making it one of the more affordable vehicles you will find. It also gets 36 miles per gallon in the city and 43 on the highway.

The Toyota Prius was one of the first cars in the market with a hybrid engine, giving it a unique place in the car industry when it comes to fuel efficiency at an affordable price.

The car is still affordable, with an MSRP of $27,950. It also gets a whopping 57 miles per gallon in the city and 56 on highways.

The Kia Rio is another car that's easy on your wallet, with an MSRP of $19,690.

The Rio also is fuel-efficient, getting 32 miles per gallon in the city and 41 miles per gallon on the highway.

All-wheel drive can be helpful in winter climates, and the Mazda 3 has it — as well as an MSRP of $24,170.

The Mazda 3 gives you an estimated 28 miles per gallon in the city or 37 on highways.

The subcompact Nissan Versa may not be big when it comes to size, but it can offer you large savings.

The Versa has a low MSRP of $16,680. It can get 32 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on highways.

The stylish Mini Cooper will turn heads with its unique compact design and attractive price tag of $25,800.

You'll also save money on gas with this car, as it gets 29 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway.

The Honda Accord's MSRP of $27,895 makes it a smart money move for car owners. It also offers plenty of safety features and earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the IIHS.

The Accord can get you 29 miles per gallon in the city or 37 on highways.

Purchasing a car is a big investment, but the cars on this list can help you cut fuel costs year after year.

Consider one of these cars if you're in the market for a new vehicle, and see if you can save money on car insurance to bring your costs down even more.