Japanese cars are already famed for making practical, simple, refined, and highly frugal cars. Sedans are the top scorers of this bunch because of obvious body style advantages. The low-slung designs and slippery surfaces with low drag coefficients help reduce drag and, hence, improve efficiency compared to SUVs. Then there are the hybrid sedans, which are even more frugal thanks to the intervention of the electric system that is intertwined with the standard gasoline powerplant.
Assisting in slow-moving situations and aiding on-board electronic functionality, the most fuel-efficient sedan on this list breaches the 50-MPG mark, which is insane. Toyota is the top scorer here in terms of frugality. It is followed closely by Honda and even Lexus. A trivia here is that there are currently no new plug-in hybrid sedans on sale from any Japanese carmakers. Do let us know in the comments section why that is, after getting to know the most fuel-efficient Japanese hybrid sedans on sale today.
The models on this list have been extensively researched, and all data provided is accurate as of the time and date of publication. Models are listed in ascending order, from least to most fuel-efficient.
2026 Toyota Crown Hybrid
Combined Fuel Economy: Up To 41 MPG
|
City |
Highway |
Combined |
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
42 MPG |
41 MPG |
41 MPG |
$1,100 |
We start this list with the newest kid on the block. The Toyota Crown has a combined fuel economy rating of 41 MPG. It also returns 41 MPG on the highway and 42 MPG in the city. This is due to the clever hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produce a combined output of 236 horsepower. Thanks to the cumulative efforts, this dashing Toyota sedan can do a total of 594 miles on a full tank of gasoline.
The 2026 Toyota Crown has a 14.5-gallon fuel tank. The annual fuel cost is around $1,100, and the Crown uses just $1.84 per 25 miles. The best part of a hybrid is the fuel savings, which amount to around $2,500 over five years compared to an average new vehicle. There is a slightly more powerful turbocharged 2.4-liter engine for the Crown, but it is devoid of the hybrid system, which plummets the combined fuel economy to just 30 MPG.
2025 Lexus ES 300h
Combined Fuel Economy: Up To 44 MPG
|
City |
Highway |
Combined |
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
43 MPG |
44 MPG |
44 MPG |
$1,050 |
Next up is the most luxurious Japanese hybrid sedan. The Lexus ES 300h shares a lot with the Toyota Camry, which also packs one of the most frugal hybrid powertrains. Despite being notably heavier and sharper than its Toyota counterpart, the Lexus ES Hybrid returns a combined 44 MPG. Contributing to this figure is its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, coupled to a high-output electric-drive motor, producing a combined 215 horsepower.
This Lexus clearly leaves a lot to be desired in terms of performance, but it excels in fuel efficiency. This luxurious Japanese hybrid sedan can do 581 miles on a tankful. The annual fuel cost is around $1,050, and this Lexus sedan costs $1.72 per 25 miles. This luxury car can help save up to $2,750 in fuel costs over five years.
10 Hybrid Vehicles That Offer Great Value When Bought Used
These 10 hybrids offer the best blend of price, performance, and features in the used car marketplace.
2025 Honda Accord Hybrid
Combined Fuel Economy: Up To 48 MPG
|
City |
Highway |
Combined |
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
51 MPG |
44 MPG |
48 MPG |
$950 |
Climbing up the efficiency ladder, we stumbled upon the Honda Accord Hybrid. This mid-size sedan is already a well-rounded package with heightened levels of fuel efficiency ratings in the ICE-only form. The hybrid powertrain takes this to the next level. The Accord Hybrid returns a staggering 51 MPG in the city and 44 MPG on the highway for a combined 48 MPG. This is courtesy of a two-motor hybrid system, the ICE part of which is taken care of by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 134 pound-feet of torque.
The Honda Accord Hybrid has a combined output of 204 horsepower, of which 181 horsepower comes from the ICE engine. This Honda can do a total of 614 miles on a full tank of gas. Thanks to the hybrid intervention, this type of driving range is possible from a 12.8-gallon fuel tank. The average yearly fuel cost is under $1,000, and the Accord Hybrid can travel 25 miles for just $1.57. The fuel savings here are sizable at about $3,250 over five years.
2026 Honda Civic Hybrid
Combined Fuel Economy: Up To 49 MPG
|
City |
Highway |
Combined |
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
50 MPG |
47 MPG |
49 MPG |
$900 |
The Honda Civic sedan is the quintessential entry-level sedan. It is a universal icon that fuses comfort, convenience, practicality, and everyday drivability in a handsome-looking package. The standard ICE-only trim levels are already very frugal runabouts. But Honda takes the Civic further out of the park with the hybrid trim, which returns up to 49 MPG combined. This is courtesy of a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, translating to a combined 200 horsepower.
It returns up to 50 MPG in the city and 47 MPG on the highway. The 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid can travel up to 519 miles on a full tank of gas. Bear in mind that it has a puny 10.6-gallon fuel tank. The annual fuel cost is around $900, with the cost of driving the Civic Hybrid for 25 miles coming to just $1.54. This car can save you up to $3,500 in fuel costs over five years.
10 Hybrid Sedans That Offer The Lowest Cost Per Mile
We looked at all the hybrid sedans available in 2025, and ranked the top 10 according to how much, on average, it costs to drive them each mile.
2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Combined Fuel Economy: Up To 50 MPG
|
City |
Highway |
Combined |
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
53 MPG |
46 MPG |
50 MPG |
$900 |
Toyota truly transcends the competition with its extremely efficient line-up of hybrid cars. The new Corolla Hybrid returns a combined fuel economy of 50 MPG, with even more impressive ratings of 53 MPG in the city and 46 MPG on the highway. This is courtesy of an electrified powertrain that consists of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that take a bit of load during driving and running on-board electronics.
The 2026 Corolla Hybrid is capable of being driven for a staggering 565 miles on a full tank of gas. It has a puny 11.3-gallon tank. The annual fuel cost is under $1,000, and the Corolla Hybrid costs just $1.51 to run for 25 miles. The result is savings of up to $3,500 in fuel costs over five years.
2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Combined Fuel Economy: Up To 51 MPG
|
City |
Highway |
Combined |
Avg Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
52 MPG |
49 MPG |
51 MPG |
$900 |
This is the most fuel-efficient Japanese hybrid sedan today. The 2026 Camry Hybrid returns a maximum of 51 MPG. It goes further with 52 MPG in the city and 49 MPG on the highway. Aiding this mid-size sedan’s ultra-frugal nature is a hybrid powertrain that pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors. There is also an AWD trim that adds a third motor to the rear axle. However, it is the standard FWD Camry Hybrid that steals the show with its frugality.
It can do 663 miles on a full tank of gas. It is overkill at this point! Nevertheless, the Camry clearly offers an uninterrupted driving experience. Annual fuel costs are under $900, and this Toyota costs just $1.48 to do 25 miles. That’s even cheaper than the Corolla Hybrid above. This Japanese sedan can help save up to $3,500 in fuel costs over five years.