These Are the 5 Best Gas Mileage Midsize Cars for 2022 According to iSeeCars
With gas prices remaining near-record levels for much of 2022, fuel-efficient cars are in high demand. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy recently stated that hybrid-electric vehicle sales increased by 76% from 2020 to 2021. That increase will likely continue in 2022. But if you’re looking for non-hybrid options? Plenty of midsize cars on the market offer great gas mileage.
iSeeCars’ picks for the best gas mileage midsize cars for 2022
iSeeCars put together a list of the market’s top five most fuel-efficient midsize cars. The ranking is based on each model’s highest-rated miles per gallon (mpg) figure. Here’s which midsize models made the top five:
- 2022 Honda Accord (Range: 488 miles)
- 2022 Toyota Camry (Range: 506 miles)
- 2022 Nissan Altima (Range: 518 miles)
- 2022 Chevrolet Malibu (Range: 506 miles)
- 2022 Hyundai Sonata (Range: 459 miles)
1. Honda Accord
The 2022 Honda Accord is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the market without a hybrid powertrain. The Accord comes standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. For affordable midsize cars, those are great power figures as well.
The Accord is rated 30 mpg in the city but 38 for highway driving. With a fuel tank capacity of 15 gallons, you can expect to get around 488 miles out of a full tank. iSeeCars states the average midsize car gets a combined 30 mpg. This means the Accord is 9% better than the average, the best of any midsize car on this list. It also rates well in reliability (9.0 out of 10 from iSeeCars) and safety (10 out of 10).
“This vehicle is 9% more fuel efficient than the average midsize car’s 30 MPG.”
iSeeCars
2. Toyota Camry
The best-selling sedan in the U.S. in 2021, per Newsweek, is also one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the market. Though the 2022 Toyota Camry’s standard engine is slightly bigger than that of the Accord, it still gets great mileage.
The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine gives drivers 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The Camry averages 28 mpg in the city and 39 in highway driving. With a nearly 16-gallon fuel tank, you can go around 500 miles between fill-ups at the gas station.
Six trims are available for the latest Camry model: the base LE, SE, SE Nightshade, XSE, XLE, and TRD. The first three trims in the lineup all have the most fuel-efficient powertrain. The latter three get upgrades in power at the cost of gas mileage. Though the Accord has it slightly beat in combined mpg, the Camry is still 6% more fuel efficient than the average midsize car on the market. It also gets high ratings in reliability (8.9 out of 10) and safety (10 out of 10).
3. Nissan Altima
The 2022 Nissan Altima, like the Camry, is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Though the power figures are a bit lower than the Camry and Accord — 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque — the Altima has both beat on fuel tank capacity at slightly more than 16 gallons. iSeeCars estimates you can go 518 miles on a full tank.
Unlike the top two of this list, the most fuel-efficient trim for the Altima is solely the base 2.5 S. It averages 28 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway. All other trims see a slight drop in fuel economy between 29 and 31 combined mpg. The Altima does get high marks for safety (10 out of 10) but a lower reliability score (8.3 out of 10) compared to the top two most fuel-efficient midsize cars.
4. Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet’s Malibu midsize sedan makes this list thanks to one of the smallest engines on the list.
The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is available for the base LS, RS, and LT trims and offers 29 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. It’s the least powerful engine on this list at 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The Malibu’s fuel tank comes in at 15.8 gallons, meaning you can likely hit 500 miles between trips to the pump but not much more.
The 2022 Malibu has the lowest starting price on the list at $23,400 starting MSRP. But it gets the lowest safety score from iSeeCars on the list (8.6 out of 10) and a relatively low-reliability score (8.2 out of 10).
“This vehicle is 6% more fuel efficient than the average midsize car’s 30 MPG.”
iSeeCars
5. Hyundai Sonata
The 2022 Hyundai Sonata rounds out the top five midsize cars with the best gas mileage with another 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine. This naturally aspirated powertrain generates 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. That engine is only available in the base SE and SEL trims. The former has a slightly smaller fuel tank at 15 gallons, meaning a full tank could take you 459 miles. The SEL’s fuel tank is slightly bigger (16 gallons), which means you can go up to 490 miles before filling up again.
The Sonata is the lightest car on the list at 3,120 lbs and rates well in safety (9.0 out of 10). Its reliability score from iSeeCars is the lowest on the list, at 8.1 out of 10.
What are the most fuel-efficient midsize cars of 2022?
The winner by a slim margin is the Honda Accord. But with the trio of the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu close behind, there are plenty of options to get a fuel-efficient midsize car. With the exception of the Malibu, these cars reach similar power figures. Any of them make for a great option to avoid frequent trips to the gas station.
