In times when the price of everything seems to be rising t’s understandable that drivers would want to minimise their fuel bills as much as possible. Of course, switching to an electric car is one option, but such a move doesn’t suit everybody yet.
But don’t despair, as modern petrol and diesel cars can be remarkably efficient. With highly tuned engines and the advent of partially electrified mild hybrid technology, cars today are better than ever at extracting every last bit of energy from every drop of fuel.
So if you’re considering making the switch, you’ll probably be thinking ‘I need to value my car’ to know what sort of budget you have to play with. Once you have that info, you can decide which model suits you best from our list below.
Note also that the cars below are tested using the latest WLTP standards. Earlier models often had higher official fuel economy numbers, due to the more forgiving NEDC standards they were tested to. But the latest figures are more representative of real-world driving, which makes some of the achievements below all the more impressive…
Vauxhall Astra
Official fuel economy: 67.3mpg
The new Astra is a world away from the car it replaces. Now based on the same underpinnings as the Peugeot 308, it’s not exactly the most exciting car out there but it feels nicely premium and is a bargain to boot.
You can choose from seven trim levels, and each is available with a 1.5-litre diesel engine returning some seriously impressive fuel economy.
Toyota Yaris
Official fuel economy: 68.8mpg
Toyota’s range of ‘self-charging hybrid’ cars is marketed on getting the best results without needing to plug in. That the Yaris can achieve mpg figures in the high 60s is testament to how well the technology has matured in the two decades or so since the original Prius,
Now based around a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, the hybrid system here is very pleasant to use if not especially powerful. The Yaris itself is a fun car to drive, though – it looks good, and should prove incredibly reliable too.
Volkswagen Golf
Official fuel economy: 68.9mpg
The VW Golf is an icon of the family car class and the latest model offers more choice than ever, with petrol, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and diesel variants available. The diesels offer seriously impressive economy thanks to a raft of clever tech – VW also claims it’s the cleanest diesel ever developed in terms of particulate emissions.
The Golf’s still a great family hatchback too, with a high-quality interior and lots of space, plus easy driving dynamics that make it comfortable over any length of journey.
Vauxhall Corsa
Official fuel economy: 70.6mpg
The Corsa’s a very economical car right from the off. Not only is it inexpensive to buy but Vauxhall typically offers it with impressive finance deals, and Vauxhall dealers are known for offering heavy discounts – so haggle and you might get a fair chunk off the price of this neat little supermini.
And once you own it you won’t be spending a fortune on fuel bills either. The 1.5-litre diesel engine is amazingly efficient in the real world, with the 70mpg figure genuinely achievable. The biggest surprise is how big of a step this is over the previous Corsa – it’s an amazing transformation.
Citroen C3
Official fuel economy: 70.6mpg
The Citroen C3’s based on a slightly older design than its platform siblings but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get the latest 1.5-litre diesel engine complete with the latest impressive fuel economy.
The focus with this supermini is on relaxation – squashy suspension, wide, supportive seats and light controls. That does mean you won’t be blasting down a B-road any time soon, but if you’re built more for comfort than speed it ought to suit you down to a T.
Peugeot 208
Official fuel economy: 71.4mpg
The latest generation of Peugeot 208 is one of the best superminis you can buy. It’s good to drive, with tight handling and a comfortable ride. It’s also very stylish, with an interior that feels like it’s come from a premium car two classes above. It’s that good.
Add in the same 1.5-litre diesel engine as the previous two cars in this list but somehow, even more efficient, and you’re on to a winning formula. Don’t discount the 1.2-litre petrol engine, though, especially with the eight-speed automatic which makes it an excellent motorway cruiser.
Find out the best eco-cars for 2022 is a feature post
