10 New Sports Cars That Are More Fuel Efficient Than You’d Expect

Arguably, one of the most overlooked aspects of sports cars is fuel consumption. While sports car enthusiasts might dream of owning a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, they often overlook its combined average of 16 MPG. Furthermore, despite being the cheapest way to get more than 350 horsepower, the Ford Mustang GT is no use if you can only afford to drive it every other weekend. After all, the 2024 Mustang GT has a combined fuel consumption rating of 19 MPG. But all hope isn’t lost.

Of course, you can try and source an electric sports car like the Tesla Roadster that Elon Musk keeps on making claims about, but chances are one of these will set you back north of six figures. Or perhaps swallow your pride and buy a bland, affordable hybrid car. There is one more alternative, though.

Instead of kissing your dreams of owning a spectacular sports car goodbye, rather do some research on what the market has to offer. Lucky for you, you’re in the right place. Here are the best sports cars you can buy new in 2024 that are not gas-guzzling machines.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from official manufacturer websites, and fueleconomy.gov. These sports cars will be ranked from least to most fuel efficient.

10 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster

Average Fuel Economy: 24 MPG

Introduced in 2016, the Porsche Cayman and the drop-top version, the Boxster, were always seen as budget-friendly alternatives to the Porsche 911. Both the 718 range and 911 are rear-wheel-drive, have an engine that sits behind the driver, and are one of the very few high-performance cars that still come with a manual transmission in 2024.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Porsche & EPA)

Although the 911 may outperform the Boxster and Cayman, these tiny Porsches have the upper-hand when it comes down to fuel consumption. With tiny turbocharged engines, base model Caymans and Boxsters sip-sip on fuel, but still manage to hold their own performance-wise.

9 2024 Audi S5 Coupe

Average Fuel Economy: 24 MPG

With the G82 BMW M4 released a few years ago, and the hybrid-assisted W206 Mercedes-AMG C 63 just over a year old, Audi’s A5 and S5 debuted in 2017. The Audi S5, a sportier version of the A5, boasts a turbocharged V-6 engine under its hood, yet, it’s more fuel efficient than the 718 Porsche.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Audi & EPA)

Not only that, but thanks to Audi’s impeccable Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the Audi S5 also outsprints the Porsche sports car, as well as many others on this list. Regardless, it seems as if Audi could double down on electric sports cars, and scrap the Audi S5 completely, just like the brand did with the R8 supercar.

8 2024 Toyota GR86

Average Fuel Economy: 25 MPG

Arguably, one of the best Toyota sports cars ever made, the GR86, is also one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars money can buy. With its beefier boxer-four engine, the GR86 has improved performance figures over its predecessor, the GT86, but not at the expense of fuel savings.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Toyota & EPA)

The 2024 Toyota GR86 has a starting MSRP of just $29,300, making it the second-most affordable sports car you can buy in 2024. And, with strong aftermarket support that includes widebod kits, forced induction kits, and much more, your GR86 can become whatever you want it to be.

7 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

Average Fuel Economy: 26 MPG

It’s been said a million times; the EcoBoost Ford Mustang isn’t a true muscle car. Regardless of whether it’s true, the EcoBoost Mustang is one of the best ways to drive around in a performance car without bankrupting yourself in fuel costs.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Ford & EPA)

Instead of having a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 like the GT, the EcoBoost has a turbocharged four-banger under its hood. With more than 300 horsepower, it’s no slouch with its sub-five-second 0 to 60 mile-per-hour time. With a starting MSRP of $30,920, the Ford Mustang is also one of the most affordable sports cars you can buy.

6 2024 Toyota GR Supra

Average Fuel Economy: 26 MPG

To address the elephant in the room. Yes, the 2024 Toyota GR Supra is more fuel efficient than the smaller, cheaper, less powerful GR86. Although it only gets one more mile per gallon on average than the GR86, it’s more fuel efficient because of the BMW-sourced B58 engine that utilizes forced induction.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Toyota & EPA)

The new Toyota Supra has nearly 400 horsepower on tap, which is all sent to the rear wheels. And for 2024, the Toyota Supra has received a six-speed manual transmission, which puts you in control at all times.

5 2024 BMW Z4 M40i

Average Fuel Economy: 26 MPG

Sharing the same platform and turbocharged B58 straight-six as the GR Supra, the 2024 BMW Z4 M40i also achieves an average combined fuel consumption rating of 26 MPG. Despite having one of the largest displacement engines on our list, the Z4 M40i is one of the cheapest sports cars to drive on the list.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from BMW & EPA)

The main difference between the Supra and the Z4 – apart from the obvious design queues – is that the Z4 has a retractable soft top. Regardless of your opinion, the combination of having an almighty, fuel-efficient engine and a topless driving experience makes the Z4 M40i a compelling sports car buy. Unfortunately, the 2024 BMW Z4 M40i costs $66,450.

4 2024 Lexus LC 500h

Average Fuel Economy: 29 MPG

One of the most underrated modern sports cars that some consider to be a budget-friendly LFA, the LC 500 is not only gorgeous but sounds excellent and houses an engine configuration that’s nearly extinct – a naturally aspirated V-8. However, the LC 500 gets an average fuel economy rating of just 18 MPG. Fortunately, Lexus also offers the LC as a hybrid, called the LC 500h.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Lexus & EPA)

Underneath the hood of the LC 500h sits a 3.5-liter V-6 that’s assisted by two electric motors. With more than 350 horsepower in total, the LC 500h goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds, all while achieving a combined fuel consumption rating of 29 MPG. Yet, it’s not the most fuel-efficient sports car on sale.

3 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Average Fuel Economy: 30 MPG

As they say, ‘Miata is always the answer.’ Apart from being the most affordable rear-wheel-drive sports car to feature a manual in 2024, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is also the most fuel-efficient sports car that doesn’t utilize hybrid technology.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Mazda & EPA)

Refreshed for the 2024 model year, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has a slightly revised front end and rear end, but it maintains the same rev-happy naturally aspirated four-pot that all gearheads fell in love with originally. With an MSRP of $28,985, the Mazda Miata is not only the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only sports car but also the cheapest sports car you can buy in 2024.

2 2024 Ferrari 296 GTB

Average Fuel Economy: 47 MPGe

The Ferrari 296 is the very first modern-day Ferrari that houses a V-6 engine. Not only that, but it adds an electric motor into the mix to maximize performance, as well as fuel efficiency. With more than 800 horsepower, this rear-wheel-drive baby Ferrari reaches 60 miles per hour from a stationary position in only 2.3 seconds.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Ferrari & EPA)

With the electric motor absent, the Ferrari 296 GTB will achieve a combined fuel consumption rating of 18 MPG, but that figure drastically increases to 47 MPG with the e-motor present. Perhaps the future for electrically-assisted sports cars isn’t as dim as many once thought.

1 2024 Ferrari SF90 Stradale

Average Fuel Economy: 51 MPGe

Believe it or not, the most fuel-efficient sports car of 2024 is the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. That’s all thanks to the SF90 being a plug-in-hybrid. With the V-8 alone, the Ferrari SF90 has a combined fuel rating of just 18 MPG, but thanks to the two electric motors, that figure jumps to 51 MPG.

Performance And Fuel Economy

(Specs sourced from Ferrari & EPA)

Not only do the electric motors make it lighter on gas, but they allow the SF90 to accelerate even more brutally. Between the V-8 and electric motors, the SF90 has nearly 1,000 horsepower on tap. And because of the all-wheel-drive system, the SF90 rockets from zero to 60 miles per hour in only two and a half seconds. In conclusion, the Ferrari SF90 PHEV proves to be the best Ferrari ever by being the most fuel-efficient sports car you can buy, as well as one of the quickest.