What are the most economical cars on the road?

More than ever, fuel economy plays a big part in choosing a car. Another factor is CO2 and NOx emissions, as they will affect the road tax payable on that vehicle.

Petrol, diesel or hybrid?

Diesel cars are relatively clean and offer good fuel economy if you regularly driving long distances - modern diesel engines can provide 50mpg on motorway journeys.

However, if you don’t cover long distances, then a petrol or hybrid is often a more economical option.

Here are some of the most economical cars on the market.

Peugeot 208 (72.2mpg-61.8mpg)

The Peugeot 208 is a popular hatchback that offers fuel economy, comfort and style.

The most efficient Peugeot 208 is the diesel BlueHDi 100 engine. It has a 41-litre fuel tank, with an efficiency of 72.2mpg that still delivers on performance.

Citroen C3 (62.8mpg)

Another French car, the Citroen C3’s engine is nearly identical to that of the Peugeot 208 and has a very similar performance. The Peugeot 208 just has the edge, but the Citroen C3 is a fun car that’s always popular.

Skoda Octavia (68.2mpg)

The Skoda Octavia is a practical option if you need more room. It’s good value as it offers plenty of legroom and boot space.

The 116hp 2.0-litre diesel model can return almost 70mpg – making it extremely cost-effective for size and engine power. You can comfortably drive long distances on the motorway in this car and achieve fuel efficiency.

Volkswagen Golf (67.3mpg)

Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions of the perennially popular VW Golf offer good economy, a stylish modern interior and large digital displays.

The 115hp 2.0-litre TDI engine can officially return nearly 70mpg, while the 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines give over 50mpg. The Golf doesn’t have the Octavia’s space, but it does have its fuel economy.
However, the five-door Mk8 Golf is still fairly spacious, providing enough room for four adults and comes with a 381-litre boot. The Golf Estate is larger with a 611-litre boot and still offers 66.3mpg.

Honda Jazz (62.8mpg)

The Honda Jazz is another fun, small car that makes the most of space by having rear seats that fold-up to give extra interior storage. A petrol-electric hybrid is cheap to run and comfortable to drive.

If you’re looking for a local run-around car, the Honda Jazz fits the bill.

Mercedes C-Class C 300 e (470.8mpg)

Currently the most economical hybrid car is the C-Class C 300 e. It has an official WLTP fuel efficiency of 470.8mpg. Its large 25.4kWh battery pack means the petrol engine rarely comes into play during laboratory testing.

However, the plug-in hybrid’s real fuel economy is often less than the manufacturer claims as more time is spent driving with depleted batteries, meaning the internal combustion engine fires up.

It has an EV range of up to 68 miles, so will cover most drives to work. And if you keep the battery topped up and only use the vehicle for short trips, you’d rarely need to use any fuel.

Would you like car advice from a friendly local garage?

Foster & Heanes offers car servicing, maintenance and repair for all makes and models of vehicles, including classic and vintage cars. Free collection and delivery can be arranged if you live near our Fleet or Dogmersfield service centres.