Muscle per Gallon: Midsize Cars
By
Rick Newman
Posted April 2, 2008
To rate cars' mix of performance and fuel economy (the muscle per gallon index), we multiplied the horsepower rating by the city MPG number, then divided by 100.
| Rank | Make | Model | MSRP | Engine Type | Horsepower | City MPG | Muscle per gallon index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan | Altima Hybrid | $25,170 | Gas/electric I4 | 198 | 35 | 69.3 |
| 2 | BMW | 3-Series | $40,800 | Gas I6 | 300 | 20 | 60.0 |
| 3 | Infiniti | G37 | $35,250 | Gas V6 | 330 | 18 | 59.4 |
| 4 | Lexus | IS | $36,005 | Gas V6 | 306 | 18 | 55.1 |
| 5 | Toyota | Prius | $22,475 | Gas/electric I4 | 110 | 48 | 52.8 |
| 6 | Infiniti | G35 | $32,650 | Gas V6 | 306 | 17 | 52.0 |
| 7 | Lexus | ES | $33,820 | Gas V6 | 272 | 19 | 51.7 |
| 8 | Nissan | Altima | $24,680 | Gas V6 | 270 | 19 | 51.3 |
| 9 | Honda | Accord | $28,060 | Gas V6 | 268 | 19 | 50.9 |
| 9 | Toyota | Camry | $24,915 | Gas V6 | 268 | 19 | 50.9 |
| 11 | Cadillac | CTS | $35,045 | Gas V6 | 304 | 16 | 48.6 |
| 12 | Toyota | Camry Hybrid | $25,200 | Gas/electric I4 | 147 | 33 | 48.5 |
| 12 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | $29,325 | Gas V8 | 303 | 16 | 48.5 |
| 12 | Nissan | Maxima | $28,270 | Gas V6 | 255 | 19 | 48.5 |
| 15 | Pontiac | G6 | $18,225 | Gas 4-cyl | 219 | 22 | 48.2 |
| 16 | Buick | LaCrosse | $31,855 | Gas V8 | 300 | 16 | 48.0 |
| 17 | Lincoln | MKZ | $30,790 | Gas V6 | 263 | 18 | 47.3 |
| 18 | Acura | TL | $36,225 | Gas V6 | 258 | 18 | 46.4 |
| 19 | Volvo | S60 | $33,985 | Turbo gas I5 | 257 | 18 | 46.3 |
| 20 | BMW | 3-Series | $34,300 | Gas I6 | 230 | 20 | 46.0 |
| 21 | Mercedes Benz | C-Class | $36,900 | Gas V6 | 268 | 17 | 45.6 |
| 22 | Subaru | Legacy Sedan | $31,795 | Turbo gas 4-cyl | 250 | 18 | 45.0 |
| 23 | Volkswagen | Passat | $38,000 | Gas V6 | 280 | 16 | 44.8 |
| 24 | Cadillac | CTS | $32,745 | Gas V6 | 263 | 17 | 44.7 |
| 25 | Hyundai | Sonata | $22,220 | Gas V6 | 234 | 19 | 44.5 |
| 26 | Saab | 9-5 | $38,220 | Gas 4-cyl | 260 | 17 | 44.2 |
| 27 | Audi | A4 | $38,400 | Gas V6 | 255 | 17 | 43.4 |
| 28 | Chevrolet | Malibu | $26,795 | Gas V6 | 252 | 17 | 42.8 |
| 28 | Lexus | IS | $31,725 | Gas V6 | 204 | 21 | 42.8 |
| 28 | Pontiac | G6 Coupe | $26,455 | Gas V6 | 252 | 17 | 42.8 |
| 28 | Saturn | Aura | $25,375 | Gas V6 | 252 | 17 | 42.8 |
| 32 | Subaru | Legacy Sedan | $31,295 | Gas 6-cyl | 245 | 17 | 41.7 |
| 33 | Subaru | Legacy Sedan | $33,995 | Turbo gas 4-cyl | 243 | 17 | 41.3 |
| 34 | Mercedes Benz | C-Class | $34,840 | Gas V6 | 228 | 18 | 41.0 |
| 35 | Buick | LaCrosse | $27,790 | Gas V6 | 240 | 17 | 40.8 |
| 36 | Nissan | Altima | $20,680 | Gas I4 | 175 | 23 | 40.3 |
| 37 | Audi | A4 | $31,000 | Gas I4 | 200 | 20 | 40.0 |
| 38 | Honda | Accord | $25,860 | Gas I4 | 190 | 21 | 39.9 |
| 39 | Ford | Fusion | $22,775 | Gas V6 | 221 | 18 | 39.8 |
| 40 | Chevrolet | Malibu Hybrid | $22,140 | Gas/electric 4-cyl | 164 | 24 | 39.4 |
| 40 | Saturn | Aura Hybrid | $22,140 | Gas/electric I4 | 164 | 24 | 39.4 |
| 42 | Mitsubishi | Galant | $27,149 | Gas V6 | 230 | 17 | 39.1 |
| 42 | Nissan | Altima Coupe | $21,170 | Gas I4 | 170 | 23 | 39.1 |
| 44 | Mazda | Mazda6 | $25,850 | Gas V6 | 212 | 18 | 38.2 |
| 45 | Volkswagen | Passat | $30,100 | Gas turbocharged I4 | 200 | 19 | 38.0 |
| 46 | Toyota | Camry Solara | $26,905 | Gas V6 | 210 | 18 | 37.8 |
| 47 | Mercury | Milan | $25,770 | Gas V6 | 221 | 17 | 37.6 |
| 48 | Saturn | Aura | $19,745 | Gas V6 | 169 | 22 | 37.2 |
| 48 | Honda | Accord | $21,160 | Gas I4 | 177 | 21 | 37.2 |
| 50 | Kia | Optima | $20,500 | Gas V6 | 185 | 20 | 37.0 |
| 51 | Jaguar | X-Type | $35,060 | Gas V6 | 227 | 16 | 36.3 |
| 52 | Dodge | Avenger | $19,245 | Gas I4 | 172 | 21 | 36.1 |
| 52 | Pontiac | G6 | $19,750 | Gas 4-cyl | 164 | 22 | 36.1 |
| 54 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | $22,210 | Gas V6 | 200 | 18 | 36.0 |
| 55 | Chrysler | Sebring | $19,865 | Gas/ethanol V6 | 189 | 19 | 35.9 |
| 56 | Volvo | S60 | $32,735 | Turbo gas I5 | 208 | 17 | 35.4 |
| 57 | Chrysler | Sebring | $27,515 | Gas V6 | 235 | 15 | 35.3 |
| 57 | Dodge | Avenger | $24,995 | Gas V6 | 235 | 15 | 35.3 |
| 59 | Subaru | Legacy Sedan | $24,395 | Gas flat 4-cyl | 175 | 20 | 35.0 |
| 60 | Toyota | Camry Solara | $19,930 | Gas I4 | 155 | 22 | 34.1 |
| 61 | Hyundai | Sonata | $22,470 | Gas I4 | 162 | 21 | 34.0 |
| 61 | Kia | Optima | $16,355 | Gas I4 | 162 | 21 | 34.0 |
| 61 | Buick | LaCrosse | $25,755 | Gas V6 | 200 | 17 | 34.0 |
| 64 | Toyota | Camry | $21,075 | Gas I4 | 158 | 21 | 33.2 |
| 65 | Mazda | Mazda6 | $18,990 | Gas I4 | 156 | 21 | 32.8 |
| 66 | Ford | Fusion | $18,935 | Gas I4 | 160 | 20 | 32.0 |
| 66 | Mercury | Milan | $21,045 | Gas I4 | 160 | 20 | 32.0 |
| 66 | Mitsubishi | Galant | $21,099 | Gas I4 | 160 | 20 | 32.0 |
| 69 | Chevrolet | Malibu | $20,630 | Gas 4-cyl | 169 | 17 | 28.7 |
| 70 | Chrysler | Sebring | $23,515 | Gas I4 | 173 | 16 | 27.7 |
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