The tricky part of lists like this is that they include limited niche variants that differ from the mass market volume versions. The Cruze Eco and Focus SFE fall into that category. The reviews for both cars indicate that they drive fine, but they have limited option packages and the fuel saver versions cost extra.

Among the competing compact class cars, only the Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra get 40 MPG with their volume versions. I bought the Mazda3 back in January, and my overall fuel economy so far is around 35 MPG in mixed driving with a high tank of 39 MPG.



Aside from the abysmal Smart Fortwo (it's smaller than a subcompact, yet the much larger Mazda3 has higher fuel economy) other cars on the list rely on alternative drivetrains (hybrid, electric, or diesel) to achieve high fuel economy, which adds substantial costs. The Golf TDI was a very strong contender, but the diesel engine ballooned the cost to $4k more than the Mazda3 -- and to get both the moonroof and premium audio, the car would have cost $29k, compared to less than $22k for the Mazda3.

At this juncture, most consumers are not ready to go over to alternative drivetrains, and with stricter CAFE standards going into effect by 2016, car manufacturers have been revamping their drivetrains. Features like direct injection, turbocharging, stop/start engines, regenerative braking, cylinder deactivation, and dual clutch transmissions are making their way into conventional cars at a rapid rate. These all increase fuel economy, and don't require an alternative drivetrain.