Top 15 fuel-efficient sports cars for 2025

We’ve researched and ranked the most fuel-efficient sports cars on sale in Japan as of 2025 ( Reiwa 7 ). Many of the cars on the list are not marketed as being fuel-efficient.

Ranking of fuel-efficient sports cars

The most fuel-efficient sports car sold in Japan is Honda’s N-ONE RS, with a WLTC mode fuel economy of 21.6km/L. As expected, models based on kei cars have overwhelmingly better fuel economy. A generation ago, there were many cars with worse fuel economy, but recently there are many hybrid-equipped models, and even models with large engine displacements or heavy vehicles have not bad fuel economy at all. I think it’s truly amazing that automakers have a lineup of so many fun and exciting cars that are so fuel-efficient.

*Based on the latest automobile information

Honda “N-ONE RS”

Honda will fully redesign its light vehicle “N-ONE” and will announce the change on November 19, 2020, with the model released on November 20.

Aiming to provide a fun driving experience for the driver and a minimalist yet relaxing space for the passenger, the instrument panel has been boldly streamlined and designed to extend from the edge of the meter to the edge of the passenger seat.

The adoption of a ” telescopic and tilt steering mechanism ” allows drivers of all sizes to find the best position for their gears. The turbo model is available with a “6MT” model, which is rare for a minicar . It uses the transmission case from the N-VAN and the gear unit from the S660. A link mechanism is used to increase rigidity, and the short shift knob is positioned at an exquisite angle on the instrument panel, achieving an extremely sporty and refreshing shift feel. Like the S660, a double cone synchronizer is used for second gear and a carbon synchronizer for third gear, particularly improving the comfort of shifting through the frequently used first to third gears. Clutch technology also contributes to this comfort.

Honda “N-ONE RS” specifications

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Toyota Copen GR SPORT 

Aiming to “make ever-better cars,” the car was based on the new Daihatsu Copen, which is not in Toyota’s lineup, and fused with the ideal driving feel of the GR. Development focused on tuning the body rigidity and suspension, optimizing the suspension spring rate by adding a front brace and changing the shape of the center brace, and combining it with special shock absorbers to pursue a flat ride feel.

The exterior features the “Functional MATRIX” grille, an icon of the “GR.” The large-opening lower grille contributes to improved cooling performance, and the under-spoiler-shaped front bumper contributes to improved driving performance, emphasizing the low center of gravity and wide and low body design. Aerodynamic performance has also been improved. There are eight body colors available.

The interior features exclusive Recaro seats and a special self-illuminating triple meter. The center cluster is decorated with a special piano black finish. The interior color is black only. The electric opening and closing roof “Active Top” is standard equipment.

Toyota has made some improvements to the new Copen GR SPORT and will release it on May 10, 2021. It will also have enhanced safety features to comply with the latest regulations, and will be released on December 10, 2024.

Toyota Copen GR SPORT specs

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Toyota GR Yaris

Toyota will make minor changes to the new GR Yaris, releasing an improved, evolved model on March 21, 2024. Based on Morizo’s desire to “bring the joy of driving to more people and broaden the base of motorsports,” the company has developed a new 8-speed automatic transmission, the GR-DAT, to fully enjoy the 1.6L inline 3-cylinder turbo engine and four-wheel drive that is the essence of the GR Yaris. The result is a car that allows a wide range of drivers to fully enjoy sports driving and motorsports.

The lower grille uses a steel mesh that is thin, lightweight, and strong, while the lower bumper side now features a new split structure. This makes it easier to restore or replace damaged areas caused by flying stones or other debris during motorsports competitions, and also reduces repair costs. The side lower grille has been redesigned with a larger opening to ensure cooling performance. Furthermore, outlets have been installed on the bumper side to effectively exhaust heat from the sub-radiator and ATF cooler.

An opening at the bottom of the rear lower garnish allows air to escape from under the floor, reducing air resistance and improving handling stability, while also dissipating heat from the muffler. The upper and lower rear lamps have been consolidated to avoid damage and improve visibility during motorsports competitions. Separating the high-mount stop lamp from the rear spoiler enhances the customizability of the rear spoiler. The taillights, which are connected in a single, unified line, express a unique character that makes it instantly recognizable as the new GR Yaris.

Based on the motif of the Super Taikyu Series and All Japan Rally cars, the control panel and display are tilted 15 degrees toward the driver, improving visibility and operability. The layout of the switches has been carefully designed to be easy to use not only during sports driving but also in everyday life.

The driving position has been lowered by 25 mm, and the steering position has also been adjusted to improve driving posture. Forward visibility has been expanded by moving the inner mirror’s mounting position higher on the windshield and lowering the top of the center cluster by 50 mm. The shift lever has been raised by 75 mm compared to the current GR Yaris RS, which is equipped with a CVT, and placed in the same position as the shift lever on the GR Yaris MT model, improving operability. With vehicle control applications in rallies and gymkhana in mind, a manual parking brake has also been adopted for vehicles equipped with the GR-DAT. Drawing on lessons learned from motorsports, the direction of gear shifting using the shift lever in M ​​mode has been reversed from the previous model. Pulling the lever upshifts (accelerates) and pushing it downshifts (deceleration) to match the vehicle’s behavior, achieving operability similar to that of a racing car’s sequential transmission. A 12.3-inch full-color TFT meter has been adopted. Based on the input of professional drivers, the focus has been placed on the visibility and vehicle information required for sports driving. For vehicles equipped with the GR-DAT, an automatic transmission oil temperature display has been added, and when downshifting is not possible because the engine speed is too high during the downshift operation, a warning has been added to the gear position display in the meter, in place of the previous warning sound alone. This reflects requests from drivers who participated in the All Japan Rally using prototype cars, such as “I want the warning to be easier to understand even during competition when wearing a helmet.”

Toyota “GR Yaris” specifications

1.6L inline 3-cylinder intercooler turbo engine “G16E-GTS” engine output has been improved from 200kw (272PS) to 224kw (304PS), and torque from 370N･m (37.7kgf/m) to 400N･m (40.8kgf/m). Engine output has been improved from 200kw (272P )

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