These Cars Are Big Money Sucks When It Comes to Your Fuel Budget
Sometimes, the best-performing cars are the biggest gas guzzlers. These vehicles often have ultra-powerful, performance engines that run through fuel in no time at all. Keep reading to discover the 35 worst offenders that drain your fuel budget more than most.
Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Chiron has an incredible top speed of 261mph, so it's hardly a surprise that it uses up gas so quickly. It has a very low MPG of 8 in cities and 13 on highways, so you'll need to budget extensively for fuel if you buy one.
Ford F-150
If you need a practical vehicle that can haul heavy cargo and handle off-road terrain like a pro, you’ll love the Ford F-150. Just don’t go too far from the nearest gas station because the F-150 sucks gas out of the tank almost as quickly as you put it in.
Cadillac Eldorado
Given its size, we’re not surprised that the Cadillac Eldorado is a massive gas guzzler, but the older models are definitely worse because of their heavy builds and engines. Some of the oldest Eldorados may only cover 5 miles per gallon!
McLaren 720S
The McLaren 720S can exceed 100mph in under six seconds, so if you drive it as aggressively as it’s intended to be, you’ll burn through gas like it’s nothing. It has a combined city and highway MPG of 18, which is far below average.
Lamborghini Aventador
The Lamborghini Aventador is known for two things: its incredible performance and its poor fuel economy. The V12 engine is largely to blame, as it consumes a lot of gas, resulting in city MPG in the single digits.
Buick Apollo
The Buick Apollo is a great car, but it’s not without its faults. It was never designed to be a fuel-efficient car, especially when it was fitted with a bigger, more powerful 350 V8 engine. As a result, it manages just 15mpg and hasn’t improved its efficiency over time.
Bentley Continental GT
If there was ever a car designed to go fast and far, it’s the Bentley Continental GT. Although the newer hybrid engines are more efficient, the Continental GT remains a very large car that requires a lot of fuel, even on short journeys.
Maybach 62
The Maybach 62 is an underrated, luxurious sedan that more people should know. But any car that costs $500,000 must have a catch, and for the Maybach 62, that was its gas-guzzling V12 engine, which has a fuel economy of just 17mpg.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
We can’t deny that the Rolls-Royce Phantom is a showstopper, but it has a very inefficient engine hiding under that beautiful hood! It manages an average of 12mpg on city roads and 20 on the highway, so whatever else it may be, it’s certainly not practical.
Dodge Monaco
The Dodge Monaco is a sizable car that requires a sizable engine, but that results in an impressive performance that burns through fuel far more quickly than the average car. The 440 engine is particularly inefficient, as is the carburetor-based fuel system.
Mercedes 300 SLR
Some racecars are surprisingly economical considering their engines, but the Mercedes 300 SLR is not one of them. It consumes far more fuel than other cars from its era, thanks to its direct fuel injection system, which is better-suited to a plane than a car.
Ferrari 812 GTS
If you want to ride in style, you’ll get your wish and more with the phenomenal Ferrari 812 GTS. Unfortunately, you won’t get optimal fuel conservation because its high-performance V12 engine is designed to be revved, which wastes a lot of gas.
Infiniti QX80
The Infiniti QX80 proves that practical vehicles can also be luxurious, but it’s very difficult to make such a big, powerful vehicle fuel-efficient. The QX80 has an estimated fuel economy of 14mpg in the city and 20mpg on highways, putting it well below the average family car.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
We all know and love the Dodge Challenger, but its drag-racing variant, the SRT Demon, is designed to go fast, make loud noises, and even do wheelies. But all that comes with a price to pay, namely, for fuel. Sadly, there’s no way to work around its terribly low MPG.
BMW 760i
Certain BMWs are known for guzzling down fuel (we’re looking at you, X5), but the 760i often flies under the radar. Unfortunately, its MPG is dragged down by its V12 engine, which, ironically, is what makes this bulky car so easy to drive.
Toyota Land Cruiser
We hate to put the Toyota Land Cruiser on this list because it’s such a distinctive, well-made vehicle, but all that off-road driving quickly drains the fuel tank. Many SUVs are far more fuel-efficient, so the Land Cruiser’s boxy bulk is likely a big contributor.
Lexus LX570
We can call the Lexus LX570 many things (stylish, powerful, fast, innovative), but it’s absolutely not practical. Its fuel economy is already low at an approximate 14mpg, and it’s worse in the city when stopping and starting is more frequent.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
James Bond might get where he needs to go in no time at all, but the Aston Martin V12 Vantage is not as reliable in real life. It is notoriously hungry for fuel, which it needs to provide the engaging driving experience that owners have come to expect.
Dodge Durango R/T
Though the original Durango uses a decent V6 engine, the R/T’s 5-liter HEMI V8 is more impressive. Sadly, its MPG is lower than the original’s, and it particularly struggles on city roads. But even if you’re cruising at high speed, expect to fill up frequently.
Ford Shelby Mustang GT500
The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 is an extremely modern, high-powered version of an American classic, but its MPG is only slightly higher than the vintage Mustang’s. It manages an economy of 12mpg in cities, whereas early Mustangs could typically reach up to 15mpg.
BMW X6
The BMW X6 is not the worst offender on our list, but it still guzzles down fuel like nobody’s business. That’s mostly due to its size and performance, which require plenty of fuel to keep things running. The things we put up with for a V8 engine!
Toyota 4Runner
Any adventurous driver will have thought about buying a Toyota 4Runner for off-road escapades, but a major criticism is its abysmal fuel economy. The newer, turbocharged models are becoming more efficient, but the majority of 4Runners simply waste fuel because of their weight.
Nissan Armada
A car as large, impressive, and full of raw power as the Nissan Armada belongs on long, high-speed roads. That’s why its city fuel economy is so terrible, sometimes slipping below 10mpg! It’s not built for stop-start commuting or casual driving.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
When it comes to designs, Rolls-Royce never misses. But the glorious Cullinan can be an inefficient nightmare because it’s both heavy and fuel-hungry. It roughly achieves 12mpg in the city and 20mpg on the highway, while pumping out some crazy emissions.
Audi S8
We’ll give the Audi S8 some credit; it does attempt to be more fuel-efficient, such as through its ‘cylinder on demand’ feature. However, it’s simply too performance-oriented to truly succeed, so while you’ll enjoy owning it, you’ll regularly need to cough up money for gas.
Porsche Macan Turbo
The Porsche Macan Turbo is not irredeemably inefficient, but Porsche certainly didn’t prioritize fuel economy when designing it. Both relaxed commuter and aggressive speedster driving styles result in disappointing MPG, so no matter where you drive, you’ll end up filling the tank often.
Mercedes S500
The newer hybrid Mercedes S500 engines are good and can reach a higher-than-average MPG. However, traditional S500s with gas engines, like the 5.5-liter V8, have a below-average fuel economy, generally clocking in at 20mpg or less. It’s disappointing but expected.
Ferrari FF
We’re unashamed to admit that the Ferrari FF is an underrated dream car; we just wish it were more economical! It costs upwards of $120,000, and you’ll spend plenty on gas, too. Its average fuel economy is just 17mpg compared to the average 30mpg.
Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Sequoia often gets a bad rep for being inefficient, and we’re not here to clear things up. Both the 2WD and 4WD models drink every last drop of fuel and then complain for more, with the latest model still struggling to break 25mpg on the road.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
The Grand Cherokee L is a limited-edition version of another iconic automobile, but it falls behind the mainstream models in its class when it comes to fuel efficiency. Its official EPA rating is firmly in the low 20s, and that currently shows no signs of changing.
Nissan GT-R
You should always drive a car like the Nissan GT-R with purpose, but just be warned that it will drain your fuel budget. The engine is designed to be revved and ridden, so while you’ll have to deal with poor fuel economy, the experience is truly exhilarating!
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Nope, this isn’t a repeat. The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a different car from the Demon, with a similar supercharged engine but a different build and purpose. The Hellcat wasn’t designed for drag racing, but it’s still pretty inefficient, with 13mpg in cities and 21mpg on highways.
Audi RS7
The Audi RS7 definitely deserves more attention, just don’t mention its pesky fuel inefficiencies. Its twin-turbo V8 engine is designed for heavy acceleration, which naturally burns fuel, and its additional performance features only worsen its fuel economy. But we’ll admit it's phenomenal to drive.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
While the original Corvette is a timeless classic, the Z06 is designed for modern daredevils. Just don’t act too cool to stop at a gas station because this car requires constant filling up to maintain its aggressive, speedy performance on the roads.
Bugatti Veyron
Anyone with enough spare cash to spend $2.3 million on a Bugatti Veyron will surely have more to spend on fuel, but it's still shocking just how much gas this supercar guzzles. Its 8-liter engine is incredibly fuel-hungry, so expect several stops as you roar down the roads.
