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 | Base MSRP | Engine Type | Horsepower | City MPG | Muscle per gallon index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge | Viper | $85,210 | Gas V10 | 600 | 13 | 78.0 |
| 2 | Chevrolet | Corvette | $46,100 | Gas V8 | 430 | 15 | 64.5 |
| 3 | Jaguar | XK | $86,035 | Gas V8 | 420 | 15 | 63.0 |
| 4 | Audi | S6 | $72,350 | Gas V10 | 435 | 14 | 60.9 |
| 5 | Porsche | 911Carrera S | $97,300 | Gas Flat 6-cyl | 355 | 17 | 60.4 |
| 6 | Porsche | Cayman S | $59,100 | Gas Flat 6-cyl | 295 | 20 | 59.0 |
| 7 | Audi | S8 | $93,300 | Gas V10 | 450 | 13 | 58.5 |
| 7 | Porsche | 911 Carrera | $73,500 | Gas Flat 6-cyl | 325 | 18 | 58.5 |
| 9 | Mercedes-Benz | CLK Coupe | $55,150 | Gas V8 | 382 | 15 | 57.3 |
| 10 | Nissan | 350Z | $36,350 | Gas V6 | 306 | 18 | 55.1 |
| 11 | BMW | M5 | $82,900 | Gas V10 | 500 | 11 | 55.0 |
| 12 | BMW | 6-Series | $75,600 | Gas V8 | 360 | 15 | 54.0 |
| 13 | Porsche | Cayman | $49,400 | Gas Flat 6-cyl | 245 | 22 | 53.9 |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz | SL | $95,300 | Gas V8 | 382 | 14 | 53.5 |
| 15 | Porsche | Boxster S | $59,900 | Gas Flat 6-cyl | 295 | 18 | 53.1 |
| 16 | Mercedes-Benz | SLK | $63,200 | Gas V8 | 355 | 14 | 49.7 |
| 17 | Saturn | Sky | $29,785 | Turbo Gas I4 | 260 | 19 | 49.4 |
| 17 | Pontiac | Solstice | $27,845 | Turbo Gas 4-Cyl | 260 | 19 | 49.4 |
| 19 | Cadillac | XLR | $80,650 | Gas V8 | 320 | 15 | 48.0 |
| 19 | Jaguar | XK | $74,835 | Gas V8 | 300 | 16 | 48.0 |
| 19 | Lotus | Exige | $64,890 | Gas I4 | 240 | 20 | 48.0 |
| 22 | Audi | S4 | $49,710 | Gas V8 | 340 | 14 | 47.6 |
| 23 | Mazda | Speed3 | $22,340 | Gas I4 | 263 | 18 | 47.3 |
| 24 | Lexus | SC | $65,455 | Gas V8 | 288 | 16 | 46.1 |
| 25 | BMW | Z4 | $42,400 | Gas I6 | 255 | 18 | 45.9 |
| 26 | Mercedes-Benz | SLK | $49,450 | Gas V6 | 268 | 17 | 45.6 |
| 27 | Audi | TT Roadster | $45,900 | Gas V6 | 250 | 18 | 45.0 |
| 27 | Ford | Mustang | $27,260 | Gas V8 | 300 | 15 | 45.0 |
| 29 | Audi | S4 | $48,610 | Gas V8 | 340 | 13 | 44.2 |
| 30 | Porsche | Boxster | $49,900 | Gas Flat 6-cyl | 245 | 18 | 44.1 |
| 31 | Lotus | Exige | $61,000 | Gas I4 | 220 | 20 | 44.0 |
| 31 | Audi | TT Roadster | $36,800 | Turbo Gas I4 | 200 | 22 | 44.0 |
| 33 | Honda | S2000 | $37,300 | Gas I4 | 237 | 18 | 42.7 |
| 34 | Audi | TT | $41,500 | Gas V6 | 250 | 17 | 42.5 |
| 35 | Audi | A5 | $39,900 | Gas V6 | 265 | 16 | 42.4 |
| 36 | Mitsubishi | Eclipse | $28,599 | Gas V6 | 263 | 16 | 42.1 |
| 37 | Mercedes-Benz | SLK | $44,150 | Gas V6 | 228 | 17 | 38.8 |
| 38 | BMW | Z4 | $36,400 | Gas I6 | 215 | 18 | 38.7 |
| 39 | Mazda | RX-8 | $26,435 | Gas Rotary | 232 | 16 | 37.1 |
| 40 | Mazda | MX-5 Miata | $20,585 | Gas I4 | 166 | 22 | 36.5 |
| 41 | Ford | Mustang | $20,720 | Gas V6 | 210 | 17 | 35.7 |
| 42 | Mazda | RX-8 | $26,435 | Gas Rotary | 212 | 16 | 33.9 |
| 43 | Saturn | Sky | $25,525 | Gas I4 | 173 | 19 | 32.9 |
| 43 | Pontiac | Solstice | $22,165 | Gas 4-Cyl | 173 | 19 | 32.9 |
| 45 | Mitsubishi | Eclipse | $23,799 | Gas I4 | 162 | 20 | 32.4 |
| 46 | Chrysler | Crossfire | $34,735 | Gas V6 | 215 | 15 | 32.3 |
| 47 | Hyundai | Tiburon | $18,125 | Gas I4 | 138 | 20 | 27.6 |
| 48 | Hyundai | Tiburon | $22,375 | Gas V6 | 172 | 16 | 27.5 |
Note: Excludes cars with a base price over $100,000.
