The 16 Most Fuel-Efficient Sports Car You Can Buy

Fuel economy and performance can go hand in hand with these fuel-efficient sports cars. Most of them get well under 10 litres per 100 km.

Fuel-efficient sports cars exist and while fuel economy isn’t a top priority when purchasing your next fun performance car, it is a good thing to have. This is especially true in today’s fluctuating economy. According to Economictimes.Indiatimes.com, fuel prices in India, currently range from 82.42 ₹/L in the state of Andaman-and-Nicobar to 108.39 ₹/L in Andhra-Pradesh. At the time of writing this, the city of Bageshwar boasts the most affordable average price at 94.03 ₹/L while refuelling in Adilabad will cost you 109.07 ₹/L, on average. Even when sharing powertrains with regular models, sports cars can still return good fuel economy. With that said, we compiled a list of the 15 most fuel-efficient sports cars, according to the WLTP cycle used in India.  

1. Audi A5 50TDI – 5.6-6.0L/100 km Combined 

The only diesel car on this list comes from Audi and it takes the first spot as the most fuel-efficient sports car you can buy. The A5 coupe, in 50TDI guise, is a long-distance cruiser with great fuel economy and just enough athleticism to be classified as a proper sports car. While it fails to match the pace or sound of the performance-oriented Audi S5, it makes up with incredible fuel economy.

The 3.0-liter V-6 TDI engine is a classic in the VAG lineup and still serves as a faithful working horse in many VW and Audi models. On the highway, the TDI-powered Audi A5 can achieve 4.9 to 5.3L/ 100 km while city driving will return 6.8 to 7.0L/ 100 km, according to the WLTP cycle. As far as fuel-efficient sports cars goes, it doesn’t get better than that unless you opt for a Plug-in hybrid.

2. Lexus LC500h – 6.6L/100 km Combined 

Lexus LC500h is the brand’s most luxurious sports car offering. The grand tourer spoils with exquisite cabin and elegant design that rival the likes of Aston Martin and Bentley. While the V-8-powered LC500 is the one that packs the most punch, the LC500h that offers superior fuel economy, making it ideal for long-distance cruises.

It still packs a punch thanks to a FHEV powertrain revolving around a V-6 unit. The Lexus LC500h is, by no means, a lightweight car, but it still manages 6L/ 100 km on the highway and an even more impressive, 7L/ 100 km in the city, according to the WLTP standard. You would think that after 10 years on the market, the Lexus RC would be discontinued, but no. In fact, Toyota’s newly developed turbo-four engines will be featured in a wide range of Toyota and Lexus models, including the upcoming Toyota Celica GR Sport and the upcoming revival of the mid-engine Toyota MR-2.

3. Mazda MX-5 Miata – 6.8L/100 km Combined

It is hardly a surprise the Mazda Miata is one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars. The combination of a compact, lightweight body, a relatively small, normally-aspirated engine, and a fairly small amount of tech make the Japanese roadster a true, old-school driver’s car that won’t put a dent in your wallet. The 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine is an engineering milestone as it achieves great efficiency and compliance with the latest emissions regulations, without resorting to forced induction.

The next-generation Mazda MX-5 will be the most powerful one yet, but even this iteration of the ND Miata boasts over 90 horsepower per litre. And since the engine doesn’t have to deal with a lot of weight, you are looking at a fuel economy of 5.8L/ 100 km on the highway and 9.2L/ 100 km in the city, according to the WLTP cycle. 

4. BMW Z4 – 7L/100 km Combined

The BMW Z4 is one of the less popular sports cars, despite the fact its underpinnings are shared by a more popular Japanese model, made by Toyota. If you opt for the Z4 sDrive30i, you are getting the B48 inline-four turbo engine. It is, essentially, a version of the B58 with two cylinders less. You could say the BMW Z4 G29 is a Germanic, turbocharged Miata.

Thanks to the wide torque band, the engine has no trouble dealing with the car’s weight and the short wheelbase makes the Z4 feel even more compact than it already is. If you go for the six-cylinder model, you won’t sacrifice much in the way of fuel economy as the Z4 M40i gets 7.9 to 8.7L/ 100 km combined, depending on which transmission you go for. The sDrive30i is only available with a ZF eight-speed automatic. 

5. BMW 230i (G42) – 7.8L/100km Combined

The Bavarian company’s entry-level, rear-wheel-drive sports car does not disappoint. Unlike previous four-cylinder models, the BMW 230i G42 does not feature the problematic N20 engine. Instead, it relies on the B48, which is, essentially, a B58 with two cylinders less. This means better reliability and more performance potential.

The G42’s design may not be as attractive as the previous-generation 2 Series, but the current generation is better in every measurable way, aside from the weight, of which the G42 230i has 133 kilograms extra. The B58-powered M240i isn’t that much thirstier (just 1.2L/ 100 km combined more) and has two extra cylinders, but it will be tempting you a lot more than the more economical 230i. 

6. Porsche 718/ 718 T – 8.1L/100 km Combined 

Whether it’s the Boxter or Cayman, the base 718 and 718 T models pack a fuel-efficient flat-four unit that still packs enough punch to run with the more powerful offerings in the segment. In this regard, the 718 lives up to the reputation of its spiritual predecessor the 550 Spyder, nicknamed “The Giant killer”.

Due to the uninspiring sound, it makes, the 718’s flat-four unit became its most divisive trait, but you can’t argue with figures. WLTP tests show 6.6L/ 100 km on the highway and 10.8L/ 100 km in the city. 

7. Toyota GR86/ Subaru BRZ – 8.8L/100 km 

Back in 2012, Toyota introduced a spiritual successor to the AE86 Corolla, co-developed with Subaru. The second generation fixed the previous model’s lack of power and is now called the GR86 (Subaru’s variant retains the BRZ name). The combination of a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive chassis and a normally-aspirated boxer engine produced one of the most engaging sports cars money can buy.

Regardless of the trim you choose, the GR86 always comes with a mechanical limited-slip differential. The third-generation Toyota GR86 will arrive after 2025. It will no longer be developed with Subaru and will feature a hybrid powertrain, revolving around the GR Yaris engine. 

8. Ford Mustang Ecoboost – 9L/100 km Combined

Ford’s iconic pony car is in its seventh generation and despite significant changes, it still relies on a version of the S550 platform. The current, S650 Mustang has become even heavier and too digitalized for purists’ taste. Gone is the dual-cowl dashboard and in its place, a more generic look with floating touchscreens has been adopted.

Engine options have bene carried over, but both mills produce extra power. The base, 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine can be fuel-efficient while still providing adequate performance. A six-speed manual is only available on the V-8. One thing the 5.0-liter cannot match is the fuel economy. With a fuel consumption of 7L/100 km, the 2.3-litre Mustang is one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars you can buy. 

9. Mercedes AMG SL43 – 9.0L/100 km Combined 

One of the more controversial cars on the list might turn out to be one of the best. When you hear Mercedes SL, you probably think of the old-school V-8 and V-12 cruisers. While the current, R232 Mercedes SL still packs a V-8, there is also a four-cylinder version, which still packs impressive punch. The turbocharged, 2.0-litre, M139 engine is familiar from the AMG A45/A45S and other compact Mercedes models.

From 2024, the SL43 gets the full 421 horsepower instead of 381 for the previous year. A 48-Volt Mild-hybrid system also aids the car on take-off and acceleration, which keeps the fuel economy up around town. On the highway, expect to see around 7.5L/100 km. This is the first time a Mercedes SL is made entirely by AMG, which makes if a lot more athletic than its predecessors. 

10. Toyota GR Supra – 9.4l/100 km Combined 

Toyota GR Supra recently got its swan-song version in the form of the high-performance GR Supra A90 Final Edition, which debuted alongside a mildly upgraded variant of the regular car. For the 2025 model year, the 2.0-liter B48 engine was dropped, leaving the inline-six as the only available engine option. Due to different calibration, the GR Supra isn’t as fuel efficient as the B58-powered Z4, but still manages 7.8L/ 100 km on the highway and 10.7L/ 100 km in the city.

The manual version is a bit thirstier – 8.7 and 12.4L/ 100 km respectively. A small price to pay given the near-supercar performance of Toyota’s latest Supra. Moreover, it seems this will be the last-generation Toyota Supra to have an inline-six as big changes are in for the sixth iteration of the Japanese icon. 

11. Chevrolet Camaro – 9.4L/100 KM Combined 

A four-cylinder Chevrolet Camaro may sound ridiculous, but it also means you will spend less time on fuel stations. While the V-8 SS and ZL-1 models are the ones that make your knees weak, you practically have to live at the petrol stations, even with the LT-1 engine’s displacement-on-demand system, which shuts off half of the eight cylinders when the full power isn’t required.

Interestingly enough, the 6.2-litre V-8 Camaro is slightly less thirsty on the highway than the 2.0-litre – 7.7 vs 7.8L/100 km. Things take a different turn when you enter the city where a lot of stopping and going is required. The Camaro as we know it will be no more after 2024 and GM wants to take the iconic model in a very different direction, involving electrification. 

12. Lexus RC300 – 9.8L/100 km Combined

If you want a reliable sports car that also happens to be relatively fuel-efficient, the Lexus RC300 is the right way to go. Distinctive looks and exquisite cabin are combined with Toyota’s ability to stand the test of time and retain its value exceptionally well. There are some trade-offs. The RC300 is not the most dynamic car on the list.

The curb weight of 1,695 kilograms is not that frightening, but the Lexus RC300 is more of a mildly sporty cruiser than a track monster. If you keep things civil, you will be able to get around 7.5L/ 100 km on the highway, which isn’t that impressive for a turbocharged, four-cylinder, but still easy on the wallet, compared to most other sports cars. 

13. Nissan Z – 9.8L/100 km Combined

The Nissan Z can easily be viewed as a modern-day performance car hero. It offers 400 turbocharged horsepower, rear-wheel-drive, manual transmission, and a relatively tech-free driving experience for not a lot of money, compared to similarly-powered sports cars. It is also one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars, pound-for-pound.

Despite riding on the 370Z platform and even sharing the same wheelbase, the Nissan Z was among the most anticipated Japanese sports cars. What Nissan did here can almost be viewed as a very comprehensive facelift. If you discipline yourself, 8.4L/100 km is achievable on the highway. 

14. Porsche 911 (992) Carrera – 10.1L/100 km Combined 

Porsche’s iconic rear-engine sports car is in its eighth generation. The recent, 992.2 update made a few key changes to the Porsche 911 lineup, chief among them a new T-Hybrid powertrain for the Carrera GTS and the upcoming 992.2 Turbo/Turbo S models. The base 911 Carrera still remains a non-hybrid proposition, but it adopts the 992.1 GTS turbochargers for extra power.

Currently, there is no Carrera 4 on offer, which means the 992.2 Carrera can only be had with rear-wheel drive. Perhaps, the Carrera S will change that. The flat-six powering the 992.2 Carrera still covers the Euro 6EA emissions requirements, which means there is still hope that the next-generation 911 will offer non-hybrid variants. 

15. Maserati Gran Turismo – 10.2L/100 km 

Maserati’s sporty GT was long overdue for a replacement. In 2023, it finally happened. The new Gran Turismo is available in three guises, one of which is the Folgore EV. We are looking at Trofeo and Modena, both of which rely on a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V-6, which shares a lot with Ferrari’s V-8 mill.

There are no hybrid versions yet. All variants of the Maserati Gran Turismo are available with all-wheel drive as standard. Maserati claims combined fuel consumption of 10.2L/100 km, but we are yet to see if that is, indeed, the case.