10 Most Fuel-Efficient Sports Cars of the 2023 Model Year: Drive Quick, Save Gas

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata and Miata RF lead this comparison at 29 EPA-estimated combined MPG. They are followed by the Toyota GR Supra at 27 MPG, with the GR86 and Hyundai Elantra N at 25 MPG. Because ten strict two-seat sports cars are not available in this comparison, the list also identifies performance hatchbacks and sedans that offer sporty driving with greater practicality.

If you want a sports car that is entertaining without carrying supercar-like fuel consumption, the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the clearest answer. Both the soft-top Miata and Miata RF are listed at 29 EPA-estimated combined MPG, making them the most fuel-efficient choices in this comparison.

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The 2023 Toyota GR Supra follows at 27 MPG combined, while the Toyota GR86 and Hyundai Elantra N reach 25 MPG combined. The list also includes performance hatchbacks and sedans because a strict two-seat-sports-car definition would not produce ten equally useful candidates. Every figure below is for the 2023 model year and should be treated as a representative EPA rating, not a guarantee of real-world fuel economy.

How these 2023 sports cars are ranked

The ranking uses EPA-estimated combined MPG as the primary measure. The 2023 Fuel Economy Guide’s combined figure assumes 55% city driving and 45% highway driving. EPA ratings are standardized so vehicles can be compared consistently, but a model with multiple engines, transmissions, trims, wheel sizes, or tire packages may have more than one rating.

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That means the numbers are configuration-specific. Before buying a particular used car, check its window sticker, VIN-specific equipment, or the EPA listing for that exact configuration. Aggressive acceleration, sustained high speeds, track use, traffic, cold weather, low tire pressure, cargo, and maintenance condition can all produce results below the official estimate.

Sports car, performance car, or both?

In the strictest sense, a sports car usually means a lightweight two-seat or 2+2 coupe or convertible designed primarily for handling and driver involvement. That definition fits the Miata, Miata RF, GR Supra, GR86, BRZ, and Nissan Z most naturally.

This article uses a broader consumer definition so it can include the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Hyundai Elantra N, and Toyota GR Corolla. Those are respectively a performance hatchback, performance sedan, and hot hatch. They are not conventional two-seat sports cars, but they are relevant alternatives for shoppers who want quick responses and entertaining driving without giving up everyday practicality.

10 most fuel-efficient sports and performance cars of 2023

EPA combined figures are representative 2023 model-year ratings from the cited comparison sources. Exact MPG can vary by engine, transmission, drivetrain, trim, wheel and tire package, and other equipment. The table intentionally does not present city and highway figures where the exact EPA configuration was not verified.

1. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata: 29 MPG combined

The standard MX-5 Miata is the strongest fit for the phrase “fuel-efficient sports car.” It is small, lightweight, rear-wheel drive, and built around simple, direct driver involvement rather than overwhelming power. Its 29 MPG combined rating is the highest in this group.

The Miata’s efficiency advantage is not just an accounting result. A compact sports car generally has less mass and a smaller overall footprint than a powerful coupe, sedan, or crossover-based performance vehicle. The trade-off is equally clear: the Miata has limited passenger and cargo space, and its modest scale may not suit buyers who regularly carry adults or substantial luggage.

Choose it if: you want the purest blend of open-air enjoyment, low fuel consumption, and classic sports-car character.

2. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF: 29 MPG combined

The Miata RF uses the same basic lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports-car formula but replaces the conventional soft top with a retractable fastback-style roof. Its cited combined rating is also 29 MPG.

The RF is best viewed as a body-style choice rather than a completely different sports car. The roof gives it a more coupe-like appearance and may appeal to drivers who prefer a more enclosed cabin, but it retains the Miata’s compact dimensions and two-seat limitations. As with the standard car, confirm the transmission and wheel configuration when checking an individual 2023 vehicle.

Choose it if: you want Miata agility and efficiency with a more distinctive fastback profile.

3. 2023 Toyota GR Supra: 27 MPG combined

The GR Supra demonstrates that a more powerful, more premium sports coupe does not automatically have to deliver poor fuel economy. Its cited 27 MPG combined rating places it only two MPG behind the Miata entries.

The important qualification is configuration. The 2023 Supra range includes more than one powertrain, so the engine, transmission, trim, wheels, and tires matter when comparing one car with another. Do not assume that every Supra has the same EPA figure simply because the model name is the same.

Compared with the Miata, the Supra is the higher-power, more substantial choice. That usually means a different ownership equation: greater performance potential and a more substantial coupe experience, but potentially higher purchase, insurance, tire, and fuel costs. Its 27 MPG combined rating is impressive in context, not evidence that it will cost the same to operate as a Miata.

Choose it if: you want a serious sports coupe and are willing to trade some simplicity for power and refinement.

4. 2023 Toyota GR86: 25 MPG combined

The GR86 is a rear-wheel-drive 2+2 coupe with a 228-hp flat-four and available six-speed manual or automatic transmission. It occupies a middle ground between the tiny, minimalist Miata and more powerful sports coupes such as the Supra and Z.

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Its 25 MPG combined rating is strong for a purpose-built rear-wheel-drive performance coupe. The rear seats are best treated as occasional-use space, but the 2+2 layout gives the GR86 more flexibility than a strict two-seater. The manual transmission also makes it attractive to drivers who value involvement more than effortless acceleration.

The GR86 and Subaru BRZ are closely related mechanically. They should be compared as variations on the same underlying idea, not as unrelated competitors. Equipment, styling, dealer pricing, condition, and the exact transmission may be more important to a used buyer than the badge alone.

Choose it if: you want an accessible, balanced rear-wheel-drive coupe and can accept modest rear-seat practicality.

5. 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI: 28 MPG combined

The Golf GTI is not a traditional sports car; it is a front-wheel-drive performance hatchback. It earns a place here because it combines a cited 28 MPG combined rating with useful passenger and cargo space and a distinctly performance-oriented character.

For many drivers, the GTI is the most livable car in this group. Its hatchback body makes daily errands easier than they are in a Miata, GR86, or Z, while the performance focus separates it from an ordinary economy hatchback. The trade-off is that it does not offer the rear-wheel-drive balance or two-seat roadster experience that defines the Miata.

Choose it if: you need one car for commuting, carrying people and gear, and enjoying winding roads.

6. 2023 Ford Mustang: 23 MPG combined

The Mustang represents the larger performance-coupe and convertible side of the market. At a cited 23 MPG combined, it is less efficient than the leaders but still belongs in a comparison for buyers who want a more substantial sporty car.

“2023 Mustang” is not a sufficiently precise description for an exact fuel-economy prediction. Engine, body style, transmission, wheels, and trim can all matter. A buyer comparing a used Mustang should look up the exact configuration instead of applying the table’s number to every car wearing the Mustang name.

The Mustang’s advantage is breadth. It offers a different kind of performance-car experience from the lightweight Miata or compact GR86: more presence, more available power, and a choice of coupe or convertible body styles. Those benefits come with greater size and, depending on specification and driving style, a larger fuel budget.

Choose it if: you want traditional American performance-car styling, a larger cabin, and the option of a convertible.

7. 2023 Subaru BRZ: 22 MPG combined

The 2023 BRZ is the GR86’s mechanical twin and a traditional 2+2 rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. Its cited 22 MPG combined rating is lower than the GR86’s 25 MPG figure, which makes the exact configuration especially important when comparing the two.

The BRZ delivers the same broad appeal as the GR86: a compact footprint, a low-slung coupe body, and a driving experience centered on balance rather than brute force. The difference between the two cars is not a reason to expect radically different engineering. Compare specific transmission, wheel, tire, trim, and equipment details, then factor in condition and price when shopping used.

Choose it if: you want the GR86 family’s rear-wheel-drive character and prefer the BRZ’s styling or available equipment.

8. 2023 Hyundai Elantra N: 25 MPG combined

The Elantra N broadens the definition further: it is a performance sedan rather than a conventional sports car. Its cited 25 MPG combined rating is notable because it pairs a sporty mission with a practical four-door body and usable rear-seat packaging.

This is the kind of car that makes sense for someone who wants performance but cannot justify a two-seat roadster. The sedan layout is easier for passengers, and the car’s everyday usability may be more important than a sports-car silhouette. The compromise is emotional and dynamic rather than simply numerical: it does not provide the same rear-wheel-drive coupe or convertible experience as the Miata, GR86, BRZ, or Z.

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9. 2023 Nissan Z: 20 MPG combined

The Nissan Z is the clearest example of the efficiency-versus-power trade-off in this list. Its twin-turbo V6 and available manual gearbox deliver the traditional sports-car ingredients many enthusiasts want, but its cited 20 MPG combined rating is the lowest here.

That does not make the Z a poor choice. It makes the priority clear. A buyer choosing the Z is likely placing more value on power, acceleration, and the character of a turbocharged sports coupe than on minimizing fuel use. Premium-fuel requirements, if applicable to the exact vehicle, should also be checked in the owner’s manual because fuel grade affects running cost separately from MPG.

Choose it if: you want a modern, high-powered sports coupe and accept that fuel economy is not its main virtue.

10. 2023 Toyota GR Corolla: 24 MPG combined

The GR Corolla is another broad-definition inclusion. It is a high-performance hatchback rather than a conventional two-seat sports car, but it gives this list an important alternative to the lightweight rear-wheel-drive coupes.

Its appeal is practical performance: a hatchback body, a more usable cabin, and an all-weather-oriented performance concept. That makes it a counterpoint to the Miata, GR86, and BRZ, which emphasize low weight and rear-wheel-drive balance. At 24 MPG combined, the GR Corolla does not match the Miata’s economy, but it offers a very different answer to the question of how to make a fast car usable every day.

Choose it if: you want a high-performance hatch with greater foul-weather usefulness and everyday flexibility.

Best 2023 fuel-efficient performance car by buyer type

• Best pure sports car for fuel economy: Mazda MX-5 Miata at 29 MPG combined.
• Best sports car with a coupe-like roof: Mazda MX-5 Miata RF at 29 MPG combined.
• Best higher-power sports coupe: Toyota GR Supra at 27 MPG combined, provided you verify the exact engine and transmission configuration.
• Best compact rear-wheel-drive coupe: Toyota GR86 at 25 MPG combined.
• Best practical performance car: Volkswagen Golf GTI at 28 MPG combined, with the qualification that it is a front-wheel-drive hatchback.
• Best four-door performance alternative: Hyundai Elantra N at 25 MPG combined.
• Best all-weather performance alternative: Toyota GR Corolla at 24 MPG combined.
• Best choice when power matters more than MPG: Nissan Z at 20 MPG combined.

How to get closer to the EPA estimate

The EPA number is a standardized benchmark, not a personal forecast. The most important variable in a sports car is often the driver: repeated hard acceleration, high-speed cruising, and track driving are fundamentally different from the test conditions used to generate a combined rating.

Maintenance and operating conditions matter too. Check tire pressure against the vehicle’s recommended cold-pressure specification, keep up with scheduled maintenance, avoid carrying unnecessary weight, and pay attention to changes in fuel consumption. Weather, traffic, trip length, road grade, tire choice, and the condition of the engine and drivetrain can all influence results.

An OBD2 scanner can be useful for reading diagnostic trouble codes and viewing certain live vehicle data when supported by the car. It can help an owner investigate a check-engine light or compare operating information with fuel-use records, but it is not a fuel-saving device. It cannot improve a car’s EPA rating and does not guarantee better MPG. Use it as a diagnostic aid, not as a substitute for correct repairs or professional diagnosis.

What to check before buying one as a used car

1. Verify the exact EPA configuration. Confirm engine, transmission, drivetrain, trim, wheels, and tires rather than relying only on the model name.
2. Check the fuel requirement. MPG and fuel price are separate issues. Consult the owner’s manual or manufacturer documentation for the required fuel grade.
3. Inspect condition. Tire wear, alignment, brakes, suspension components, warning lights, maintenance history, and accident repairs can matter more to ownership cost than a one- or two-MPG difference.
4. Assess practicality honestly. The Miata, RF, GR86, BRZ, Supra, and Z have very different passenger and cargo limitations from the GTI, Elantra N, and GR Corolla.
5. Separate historical MPG from current price. These are 2023 model-year vehicles and are now used-market products. Current prices, inventory, mileage, condition, and geographic availability change constantly and should be researched separately.

The takeaway

Fuel efficiency does not automatically eliminate driving enjoyment. The Miata and Miata RF are the strongest choices when low fuel consumption and unmistakable sports-car identity are equally important. The GR Supra shows that a more powerful coupe can still post a strong combined rating, while the GR86 and BRZ offer a more affordable rear-wheel-drive coupe formula.

The GTI, Elantra N, and GR Corolla are not strict sports cars, but they may be better answers for drivers who need passenger space and daily practicality. At the other end, the Nissan Z makes the trade-off explicit: more turbocharged performance, fewer miles per gallon. The right choice depends less on chasing the single highest number than on deciding how much power, space, weather capability, and sports-car purity you actually need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the most fuel-efficient sports car for the 2023 model year?

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata and Miata RF are tied at 29 EPA-estimated combined MPG in the cited comparison.

Will a 2023 sports car actually achieve its EPA combined MPG?

No. EPA combined MPG is a standardized estimate based on 55% city and 45% highway driving. Actual results vary with speed, acceleration, traffic, weather, tire pressure, maintenance, wheels, tires, and the exact vehicle configuration.

Why are the GTI, Elantra N, and GR Corolla included on a sports-car list?

The Volkswagen Golf GTI, Hyundai Elantra N, and Toyota GR Corolla are included as performance cars rather than strict two-seat sports cars. They broaden the comparison for shoppers who need hatchback or sedan practicality.

Can an OBD2 scanner improve a sports car’s fuel economy?

An OBD2 scanner can read diagnostic trouble codes and, where supported, display certain live vehicle data. It does not improve MPG, change an EPA rating, or guarantee lower fuel consumption.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: Choose the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata or Miata RF for the best combination of genuine sports-car character and EPA-estimated efficiency. Choose the Golf GTI, Elantra N, or GR Corolla if practicality matters more, and choose the Supra or Z if you are willing to spend more fuel for greater power.

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