With petrol and diesel prices at record levels, the cost of fuelling a car is an increasing worry for many drivers.
For motorists looking for a new vehicle, an electric car with its lower per-mile running costs might be a tempting solution for some but for others an EV isn’t the right car.
If an EV is for you, we’ve got round-ups of the cheapest models and those with the longest ranges but, if not, we’ve also compiled a list of 10 most fuel efficient cars currently on sale in the UK.
On paper, plug-in hybrids should dominate, with claimed economies running into 200+mpg. However, those figures are massively reliant on the cars being charged at every opportunity - not something every driver is able to do.
Instead, we’ve focused on regular combustion engined cars and “full” hybrids where economy is determined by driving style rather than the ability to charge regularly.
The ranking is based on the official WLTP combined consumption data - obtained using the same testing for every car. While these are still often higher than you’ll get in day-to-day use they are far closer to reality than the previous NEDC system and offer a straight comparison between models.
If an EV is for you, we’ve got round-ups of the cheapest models and those with the longest ranges but, if not, we’ve also compiled a list of 10 most fuel efficient cars currently on sale in the UK.
9. Seat Leon 2.0 TDI 115 SE - 65.7mpg (From £24,350)
Another case of parts sharing resulting in similar results, the Leon is closely related to the Octavia and Golf and it’s the same 114bhp 2.0-litre engine doing its fuel-sipping work here. The Leon is smaller than the Octavia but it’s still a practical family car with smart styling and a suite of the latest tech, which you’ll either love or hate. And whether you want a hatchback or estate, the economy doesn’t change.
10. Peugeot 308 1.5 BlueHDI 130 Active Premium - 65.4mpg, (From £26,035)
Peugeot’s Ford Focus rival has undergone a serious update for 2022. The basic platform might be carried over from the previous generation but elsewhere it’s pretty much all new. Like the rest of the Peugeot family it’s got bold looks and a stylish interior and, unlike the Focus, it’s also got the choice of a four-cylinder diesel engine capable of mid-60s economy.