Updated October 18, 2026. Which new car burns the least fuel in Canada? The answer is on Natural Resources Canada's 2026 list, last updated October 6. Below are the lowest numbers for hybrids, SUVs, gas-only cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars, all pulled straight from that list.

First, how to read it. The number is litres per 100 km, and lower is better. If the label is new to you, start with our guide to how fuel consumption works in Canada. The dollar figures below use the national average gas price of 188.4 cents a litre and 20,000 km a year, the same method as our page on what your car costs per 100 km.

The lowest numbers on the 2026 list

All ten of the lowest numbers belong to hybrids. They have a gas engine and a battery, and none of them plug in.

2026 model City Highway Combined Litres a year Gas cost a year
Kia Niro FE 4.5 4.4 4.4 880 $1,658
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 4.8 4.5 4.7 940 $1,771
Toyota Corolla Hybrid 4.4 5.1 4.7 940 $1,771
Kia Niro 4.5 5.2 4.8 960 $1,809
Toyota Prius AWD 4.8 4.7 4.8 960 $1,809
Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid 4.7 5.1 4.9 980 $1,846
Toyota Corolla Hybrid AWD (2-mode) 4.6 5.3 4.9 980 $1,846
Honda Civic Hatchback Hybrid 4.8 5.4 5.0 1,000 $1,884
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 5.3 4.6 5.0 1,000 $1,884
Toyota Camry 5.0 5.0 5.0 1,000 $1,884

The gap between first and tenth is 0.6 L/100 km. That is only about $226 a year. So do not pick a car on the second decimal. Pick on price, size and how you drive.

A white Kia Niro Hybrid EX seen from the front right

Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Match the car to your driving

Look at the city and highway columns, because they split into two groups.

  • Town drivers: The Corolla Hybrid is rated 4.4 in the city and 5.1 on the highway. A hybrid can shut its engine off in slow traffic and let the motor do the work.
  • Highway drivers: The Sonata Hybrid is rated 5.3 in the city and 4.6 on the highway. The Elantra Hybrid is 4.8 and 4.5. Both are rated better on the open road.
  • A bit of both: The Camry is 5.0 both ways. The Prius AWD is 4.8 in the city and 4.7 on the highway.

This is the kind of detail that the combined number hides, and it decides which car will sip the least for you.

Hybrid SUVs and trucks

A taller body pushes more air, so SUVs use more fuel. The best ones still beat a lot of small gas cars.

2026 model City Highway Combined
Toyota RAV4 AWD LE 5.1 6.0 5.5
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid AWD 5.2 6.1 5.6
Toyota RAV4 AWD XLE 5.2 6.1 5.7
Ford Maverick Hybrid 5.6 6.8 6.2
Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD 6.0 6.9 6.4
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid AWD 6.5 6.5 6.5
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid 6.7 6.7 6.7

Watch the trim, not just the model. The RAV4 Woodland, with its all-terrain tires, is rated 6.2. The LE is 5.5. That is 0.7 L/100 km for the tires and the rugged look. On the sedan side, the Camry XSE is 5.5 while the other AWD Camrys are 5.1. For more on the RAV4, read hybrid versus plug-in. For the Camry, see FWD versus AWD. Thinking of a small SUV with all-wheel drive? The 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid is rated 6.5. See the 2027 Crosstrek Hybrid price.

A new Tucson is coming too. Hyundai has not released Canadian numbers yet, so read what we know about the 2027 Tucson before you decide.

The best gas-only cars

Not everyone wants a hybrid. On the 2026 list, the lowest gas-only cars are:

  • Honda Civic Sedan: 6.7
  • Toyota Corolla (1-mode): 6.7
  • Hyundai Elantra (Stop/Start): 6.8
  • Toyota Corolla Hatchback: 6.8

The Civic Sedan Hybrid is rated 4.9, so the hybrid saves 1.8 L/100 km. That is about 360 litres a year at 20,000 km.

Plug-in hybrids

A plug-in hybrid can run on electricity for a short trip, then switch to gas. NRCan gives two numbers, a blended one and a gas-only one. The gas-only number is what you get when the battery is empty.

2026 model Blended (Le/100 km) Electric range Gas only (L/100 km)
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid SE 1.8 72 km 4.5
Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid 2.1 55 km 4.8
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid 2.3 60 km 5.9
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SE 2.4 89 km 5.7
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV AWD 3.2 72 km 8.6

The big win depends on one habit: plugging in. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SE is rated 5.7 on gas only. That matches the RAV4 hybrid XLE. So if you never plug it in, you pay more up front for the same fuel use. See our list of the best plug-in hybrids and all plug-in models.

Electric cars

Electric cars use no gas, so they have their own scale. The lowest 2026 numbers are 15.3 kWh/100 km for the Subaru Uncharted and the Tesla Model 3 Premium, then 15.4 for the Tesla Model Y. Our page on EV electricity use and cost explains what that means for your bill.

Before you buy

  • Check the exact trim. Wheels, tires and drive type all move the number.
  • Remember winter. Your real number will be higher from December to March. Our winter guide explains by how much.
  • Drive it like you own it. Smooth driving matters as much as the car. See how to lower your fuel consumption.

NRCan's list changes during the year, and it does not show every trim yet. Check the model page for the car you want.

FAQ

Which new car has the lowest fuel consumption in Canada? On NRCan's 2026 list, the Kia Niro FE has the lowest rating of any car that does not plug in. It is 4.4 L/100 km combined.

Are hybrids really worth it? They use less fuel, and the saving depends on your driving. The Civic Sedan Hybrid saves about 360 litres a year over the gas Civic Sedan at 20,000 km.

Does AWD use more fuel? A little. The Camry Hybrid goes from 5.0 to 5.1 with AWD. The Corolla Hybrid goes from 4.7 to 4.9.

Is a plug-in hybrid better than a hybrid? Only if you plug it in. On gas alone, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SE uses the same fuel as the RAV4 hybrid XLE.

Where can I see the rating for my car? Use NRCan's fuel consumption ratings search tool, or open the model page on Vehonix.

Sources

#best gas mileage#best hybrid cars Canada#fuel cost per year#Hyundai Elantra Hybrid#Kia Niro FE#low fuel consumption SUV#lowest fuel consumption cars#most fuel efficient cars Canada#NRCan fuel consumption guide 2026#Toyota Corolla Hybrid