The 10 ICE-Only Cars That Can Go The Longest Distance Between Refuels – CarBuzz

Some drivers prefer luxury. Others a prestigious badge, or performance. But for most, good fuel economy is paramount. More so, if you can maximize that range you get from one tank of gas. To achieve a long fuel range unfortunately, isn’t that straightforward – there are a couple of variables at play, like a car’s tank size and consumption. Or the fuel type – the diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz C-Class (available in Europe) would easily give you a 650-mile range.

That means you could have a small family runabout like a Mitsubishi Mirage with a fantastic consumption figure of 39 mpg (combined), but due to a smallish gas tank (9.2 gallons), its range is limited to only 358 miles. Good enough for zipping to the mall and back home, but limiting when you’d like to go on a cross-country tour.

Therefore, we’ve crunched the numbers to give you this top-ten list of family cars that you could buy today, which would give you the longest range between fill-ups. And there’s one clear winner…

10 Nissan Rogue

Range: 445 miles / Consumption: 33 MPG

Thanks to a modern, compact turbo-engine which utilizes only three cylinders and with a displacement of 1.5-liters, the midsized Rogue can pack a pretty decent punch when it comes to driving range qualities. Modern tubo-engines – especially the smaller type used in a biggish vehicle like the Rogue – do come with a caveat though: You have to drive gentle with the right foot. Once that small engine has to work up steam, it pretty quickly guzzles gas. But, used in a relaxed way, the Rogue will reward you with a good fuel range – and enough for our top-ten list.

Its consumption figures will only improve in the future, as Nissan is currently working on a plug-in hybrid variant.

9 Honda Civic

Range: 446 miles / Consumption: 36 MPG

Some would say the Honda Civic is the choice of family car for those who don’t want a Toyota Corolla, but still would like to be sensible. With its sleek design, the Civic oozes luxury and desirability. But staunch followers of the smaller Japanese brand will also know that their prowess has always been in the engineering department. The Civic is available with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine, and a more powerful, though compact, 1.5-liter-turbo. The NA-model might shout “responsible family man,” but with its frugal consumption, you would still get a decent fuel range of 446 miles.

8 Hyundai Elantra

Range: 446 miles / Consumption: 36 MPG

Sometimes you don’t need a fancy, small turbo-engine to give you those wonderful long legs on the open road. Asian manufacturers have always been big fans of the NA engine, and when driven in a conscientious manner, they will reward you with a frugal economy. The Hyundai Elantra has the same engine size as the Honda Civic, and the same tank size as well. But what really works for the Elantra, is a sleek body that slips effortlessly through the air. Churning out that 36 mpg rate, which gives it a decent 440 miles plus range.

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7 Volkswagen Jetta

Range: 448 miles / Consumption: 34 MPG

The Jetta’s consumption figure may be a tad worse than its Honda and Hyundai competitors’. But a bigger fuel tank helps push it to just under the 450-mile range per tank of gas. As is normal for European brands, the Volkswagen sedan utilizes a compact turbo-engine to sip gas through a straw. But mainly, in the Jetta’s case, it is his bigger fuel tank which helps him into our top-ten list of long-legged family cars.

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6 Chevrolet Malibu

Range: 474 miles / Consumption: 30 MPG

The Chevy Malibu gives us an impressive example of the power of a big gas tank. Whilst it has a very average consumption figure of only 30 mpg combined, the nearly four gallons of fuel it carries extra with it (in relation to the Elantra, Jetta and Civic) helps it jump ahead in the long range category. The poor consumption is a bit perplexing, though. With the small 1.5-liter turbo-engine, it should in theory be as miserly as the Asians. The production of the Malibu will end this month.

5 Kia Forte

Range: 476 miles / Consumption: 34 MPG

Here’s a peculiar one. The Kia Forte uses the same 2.0-liter engine as the Hyundai Elantra. But thanks to its gas tank that’s nearly two gallons bigger, it can rack up miles further than its sibling, worse consumption figures included. The Forte’s gas tank is not nearly as big as the Malibu’s, but those 14 gallons does give it a fairly impressive long distance ability of just over 470 miles.

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4 BMW 530i

Range: 493 miles / Consumption: 31 MPG

As we head closer to the top of our list of long-mileage runners, it becomes apparent the big role a huge gas tank plays. The bigger family cars all have a tank of 15 gallons or more. That means that even with an average consumption figure of in the low 30s, your big ole’ sedan will still ramp up the miles between refuels. In the BMW 530i’s case, a compact 2.0-liter-turbo produces good power with a fair consumption figure, but it is that 15.9 gallon tank which helps it achieve a range close to 500 miles.

3 Toyota Camry

Range: 505 miles / Consumption: 32 MPG

Whereas Munich’s Big Five utilizes a modern 2.0-liter-turbo, the Toyota Camry goes old school with a bigger displacement and no turbocharging for its big family sedan. Usually, this would come at the penalty of a heavier consumption. But Toyota has been using naturally aspirated engines for a while now, which means the Camry can chug along at a decent 32 mpg. That NA engine may not give you a kick in the back when you stamp on it. But it can return a decent mileage on the open road. For the 2025 model year, the Camry has gone completely hybrid, but a few 2024 models are still available on dealer lots.

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2 Nissan Altima

Range: 518 miles / Consumption: 32 MPG

Much the same as the Camry above, the Nissan Altima doesn’t bother with a turbocharged engine. Using a similar sized 2.5-liter, it is slightly detuned for power, but ekes out virtually the same torque as its main Japanese rival. The Altima does have the benefit of a bigger tank, which earns it bragging rights when you do long-distance driving.

1 Subaru Legacy

Range: 555 miles / Consumption: 30 MPG

As a breath of fresh air, the Japanese brand with a penchant for boxer engines steps to the fore with this overland cruiser of note, the 555 miles worth of driving Subaru Legacy. Boxer engines can be thirsty, as we can see in the Legacy’s actually poor consumption figure of only 30 mpg. But thanks to the design team from Fuji Heavy Industries, a gas tank nearly the size of a family room, you don’t have to worry that much about consumption. Just plant the foot, and the Subie will do the rest. At 555 miles per tank, there won’t be anything else on the market in the family car segment using a gas engine that will outrun you. Hats off to the Legacy.

Sources:
EPA