Whether you are getting a brand new or used car, an important factor to consider is the fuel economy. With the record level surge in gasoline prices, even that cheap vehicle may turn out to be a bad automotive investment decision when you consider the fuel costs. Many sports cars offer excellent fuel efficiency, but when you go back to the 2000s, you come across average fuel economy figures more often than not.
If you need a sports car from the 2000s, save a handful of hybrid and electric vehicles, don't expect to get in the 50 MPG ballpark. Whatever vehicle you decide to go for, a tip that would help you get the best gas mileage is to drive with care. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), over-speeding, and rapid acceleration on the highway can waste gas by 15% to 30%. You would be saving gas mileage by roughly 4% if you fix a vehicle that failed gas emission tests or is obviously out of tune. That said, here are the most fuel-efficient sports cars in the market from the 2000s.
10 2001 Hyundai Tiburon - 21/29 MPG
The 2001 Hyundai Tiburon sports a distinctive styling with its large bold quad projector-beam headlights, and swoopy sheet metal. With a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the 2001 Tiburon puts out 140 hp and lively acceleration.
Hyundai targets the young, style-sensitive, budget-friendly market with the 2001 Tiburon. This is why the 2001 Tiburon takes you to 29 miles on a gallon on the highway and 21 miles around the city. You may spend up to $2,550 on gas annually.
9 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse - 21/29 MPG
If there’s a list of sports compact cars that are fun to drive, the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse would definitely be on it. The styling is fresh and aggressive, with a smoother lower fascia, recessed cavities for fog lights, and composite clear lens tail lamps, all working together to accentuate the aggressive look of the 2003 Eclipse, and appeal to performance-minded buyers.
The top-of-the-line Eclipse GTS comes with a 3.0-liter V6 engine that cranks out 210 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque. Just like the Hyundai Tiburon, the 2003 Eclipse has a fuel economy rating of 21/29 MPG on the city/highway.
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2003 Volkswagen GTI - 35/44 MPG
The agile, practical, and responsive 2003 Volkswagen Golf/GTI is one of the safest and most fuel-efficient vehicles in the early 2000s. It earned a five-star rating for its ability to protect the driver and front passenger in the event of a crash.
The 2003 four-door GTI has a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 38 MPG. If you take up to 15,000 miles annually, you will spend around $1,900 on fuel. In five years, you'd have saved up to $2,000 on fuel costs compared to the average vehicle.
7 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4 - 25/32 MPG
Pumping out 220 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque from a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, the 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4 was America's version of the Honda Civic Si. Sporting 17-inch wheels, beefier suspension bits, and a large rear wing to complement its spherical styling, the 2005 Neon SRT-4 was Dodge's way of proving it could make something other than big stonkin' pickups and devilishly named muscle cars.
The '05 Neon SRT-4 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 28 MPG, so it should cost about $2,200 to fuel it annually. But you may be able to save up to $500 on fuel costs over the next five years.
6 2005 Toyota Celica - 25/33 MPG
Although Toyota’s Celica has been criticized for being overweight and a tad slow, the 2005 model put those claims to rest. It is a nimble performer with racecar design elements like sharp-edge panels and a radically lowered front fascia. The top-of-the-line GT-S model comes with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with an output of 180 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque.
The 2005 Celica can take you up to 33 miles on a gallon on the highway, and 25 miles around the city. Although you may spend around $2,200 to keep the Celica on the road annually, the upside is that in five years, you’d have saved up to $500 on fuel costs.
5 2006 Acura RSX - 24/31 MPG
The Acura RSX is an inexpensive front-drive sport hatchback that makes for a great daily driver. The 2006 RSX is equipped with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine mated with a 5-speed manual transmission to put out 155 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque.
The combined EPA fuel economy rating of the 2006 RSX is 26 MPG, and it costs roughly $2,350 to keep it running all year round. Unlike the Honda S2000, which costs $6,500 more to fuel in five years, you get to save at least $250 on fuel for the Acura RSX during that same period.
4 2008 Audi TT Coupe - 23/31 MPG
Although some people did not warm up to the original Audi TT because of its tight cabin, pug-like nose, and bustled rear-end, the 2008 TT coupe changes all that, with its elongated hood, and short deck, which is unencumbered by a spoiler.
The 2008 TT Coupe cranks out 200 horses and 207 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine. The EPA fuel efficiency rating of the 2008 TT Coupe is 31/23 MPG on the highway/city, and a combined rating of 26 MPG.
3 2008 MINI Clubman - 28/37 MPG
The 9.4-inch difference in length between the 2008 MINI Clubman and the standard Mini Cooper, makes the former the preferred option for buyers that desire extra cabin and cargo room. The Clubman, which is a pretty decent daily driver, makes 172 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque from its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.
The MINI Clubman boasts of an EPA fuel economy rating of 37 MPG on the highway and 28 MPG around the city. Assuming you reach 15,000 miles annually, you should spend up to $2,250 on fuel costs and save about $250 in the next five years.
2 2009 Mazda MX-5 - 22/28 MPG
Inspired by the compact, nimble British roadsters in the 60s, the 2009 Mazda MX-5 is an elegant sports car with a no-nonsense approach to driving. This model year gains more power with its 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine that puts out 167 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque.
When it comes to fuel economy estimates, the 2009 MX-5 takes you up to 28 miles per gallon on the highway and 22 miles per gallon around the city. This gives the Mazda MX-5 an edge over competitors like the Chrysler Sebring.
1 2009 Scion tC - 21/29 MPG
While Scion targets the 20-something demographic with the 2009 tC, those in their 40s can have a sense of what it feels like to be a youth in tC coupe. The 2009 tC practical city cruiser comes with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that releases 161 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque.
The 2009 Scion tC can hit 29 miles on a gallon on the freeway and 21 MPG around the city. For a subcompact coupe going for less than $20,000, the Scion tC is a fun car with plenty of standard features like a sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, and well-bolstered seats.