Five Modern Fuel-Efficient Hondas Worth Owning

November 29th, 2022 by

A silver 2023 Honda HR-V is shown parked in a yard.

Fuel efficiency is one of the most important considerations when the time comes to buy a new vehicle. With gas prices the way they are, most people are all about trying to find the best ways to keep cash in their wallets instead of spending it at the pump. There have been a couple of solutions to that problem, one in the form of electric vehicles, which is only really suited for those who live in urban areas with a selection of charging stations you can easily access. Another solution has been hybrids, which mix gas and electricity together to get the most range on as little fuel as possible, but they’re usually difficult to repair, and some people prefer having gas-powered vehicles to work on if anything needs replacing.

For those of you living in a place where you have to do a lot of frequent traveling across long distances for work, you’re definitely going to want something reliable and fuel efficient. If you’re not keen on hybrids or electric vehicles, then you’re probably wondering what the best gas-powered Hondas are that give you the most mileage for your money. Well, you’re in luck because if you live in the great north and you’re looking for a Honda dealer in North Dakota that can show you some of the more fuel-efficient Hondas, then we can help. We’ve put together a list of five fuel-efficient Honda models.

#5: The 2023 Honda CR-V

Available both as a gas-powered and hybrid iteration, the Honda CR-V is a solid choice for small families and commuters. If you want an affordable iteration of the Honda CR-V with no hybrid or electronic tech under the hood and excellent gas mileage, then the 2023 Honda CR-V shouldn’t disappoint. Compact Honda SUVs are generally pretty fuel efficient, given their smaller stature and turbocharged powertrains, and the CR-V is no exception.

The 2023 model year only has one gas-only powertrain, a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It’s available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you want better handling and stability, as well as traction control when driving during the snowy or rainy seasons, the all-wheel drive is a great solution. With an all-wheel drive 2023 CR-V, you will get an EPA-estimated 27 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. In front-wheel drive, the Honda CR-V manages an EPA-estimated 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway.[a] This makes it a very reliable choice for those who want an SUV but also want great gas mileage but don’t want a hybrid or EV.

A red 2022 Honda Accord LX is shown parked after leaving a Honda dealer in North Dakota.

#4: The 2022 Honda Accord

Easily one of the most recognized nameplates in the industry, the Honda Accord has a storied history of being a go-to, all-around sedan. That holds true even today. If you want a modern midsize sedan that basically hits all the right check marks on your “most wanted list” for a vehicle, the Accord is that vehicle. Quality design, comfortable interior, easy to handle, and solid fuel economy ratings.

The 2022 Honda Accord has two engine options that run solely on gas. There is a hybrid version of the Accord as well, but we are only going to focus on the gas variant. The first engine option is a 1.5L turbo I-4 paired with a CVT. This engine is front-wheel drive only and gets an EPA-estimated 30 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway.[b] The second engine option is the 2.0L turbo I-4, which comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine will give you an EPA-estimated 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway.[b]

#3: The 2023 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V is essentially a smaller version of the CR-V. This subcompact model offers seating for up to five, but we would recommend this one to single commuters or couples. The 2023 Honda HR-V comes with one engine option; a 2.0L I-4 paired with a CVT. This engine produces 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, which is a solid amount of power to handle your daily commuting needs. The 2023 HR-V gets an EPA-estimated 26 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway with front-wheel drive.[c] Like the CR-V, you can also get the HR-V with all-wheel drive, which will make traveling in the North Dakota snow a little bit easier. The all-wheel drive configuration brings the fuel economy down to an EPA-estimated 25 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway.[c]

#2: The 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback

The Civic is a favorite choice for many drivers looking for something small and efficient and can be found at almost every Honda dealer. It’s available in multiple iterations, including a sedan, coupe, and hatchback. The 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback, in particular, is one of the most fuel-efficient, gas-powered vehicles available from Honda that doesn’t fall into hybrid territory. It also has the option of a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT, which is an option that has fallen out of style in recent years.

Like the Accord, the 2023 Civic Hatchback has two engine options, and both are front-wheel drive with the choice of transmission. The first engine option is the 2.0L I-4. This engine gets an EPA-estimated 29 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway with the CVT or 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway with the six-speed manual transmission.[d] The second engine option is a more powerful 1.5L turbocharged I-4. This engine will give you an EPA-estimated 31 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway with the CVT. Drivers who opt for the manual transmission will get an EPA-estimated 28 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway.[d] These ratings complement the amount of comfort and performance that the Civic Hatchback has to offer.

A black 2023 Honda Civic Sport is shown driving through a town center.

#1: The 2023 Honda Civic Sedan

Slightly less expensive than its compact hatch counterpart, the 2023 Honda Civic Sedan’s sporty design and unique look don’t take away from its compact sensibilities and fuel-efficient propulsion. The 2023 Civic Sedan is the kind of efficient model that you could buy new or used and still come out on top either way. The two powertrains are also highly reliable and sporty enough to make driving in North Dakota a fun ride.

Unlike its hatchback counterpart, the Civic Sedan does not come with the option for a manual transmission. Instead, both engines are paired with a CVT. Both powertrains are available only in front-wheel drive but offer some great gas mileage either way. The 2.0-liter I-4 gets an EPA-estimated 30 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway.[e] If you want even better performance gains and to stretch your dollar with the gas-powered sedan, opt for the 1.5L turbocharged I-4 that gets an EPA-estimated 33 MPG in the city and 42 MPG on the highway.[e]

Just a Few Fuel-Efficient Models

We showed just a few of the current fuel-efficient models from Honda, but these are not the only models the brand offers. While these numbers reflect the current model years, that doesn’t mean that buying used will give you poor fuel economy. In fact, many of the vehicles we talked about here have had similar fuel economy ratings for years now. If you are ready to find a fuel-efficient Honda model, contact us or come by Ryan Honda of Minot and ask our team about the models we currently have on the lot. They can walk you through the different options so you can find a model that gets the fuel economy ratings you’re looking for.


[a]28 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg rating for 2WD EX & EX-L trims. 27 city/32 highway/29 combined mpg rating for AWD EX & EX-L trims. 43 city/36 highway/40 combined mpg rating for the 2WD Sport trim. 40 city/34 highway/37 combined mpg rating for AWD Sport & Sport Touring trims. Based on 2023 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition (hybrid trims) and other factors.
[b]30 city/38 highway/33 combined mpg rating for LX and EX-L. 29 city/35 highway/32 combined mpg rating for Sport 1.5T and Special Edition. 22 city/32 highway/26 combined mpg rating for Sport 2.0T and Touring 2.0T. 48 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg rating for Hybrid and Hybrid EX-L. 44 city/41 highway/43 combined mpg rating for Hybrid Sport and Touring. Based on 2022 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition (hybrid trims) and other factors.
[c]26 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg rating for 2WD trims. 25 city/30 highway/27 combined mpg rating for AWD trims. Based on 2023 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
[d]26 city/36 highway/29 combined mpg rating for Sport 6MT. 29 city/37 highway/32 combined mpg rating for Sport CVT. 31 city/39 highway/35 combined mpg rating for EX-L. 28 city/37 highway/31 combined mpg rating for Sport Touring 6MT. 30 city/37 highway/33 combined mpg rating for Sport Touring CVT. Based on 2023 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
[e]30 city/37 highway/33 combined mpg rating for Sport. 33 city/42 highway/36 combined mpg rating for EX. 31 city/38 highway/34 combined mpg rating for Touring. Based on 2023 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, and other factors.