With the rising cost of living, many people are understandably trying to save money wherever possible and switching to a more efficient car could be one way to help cut your monthly outgoings.
Modern cars have made big strides on fuel economy so it may well be that switching your older model for a newer alternative could see you filling up less often. Before you go any further, you’ll need to work out what sort of a budget you have to play with, so once you have asked ‘how much is my car worth?’ then you’re ready to start checking out the options you have to choose from.
One thing worth bearing in mind is that the official fuel economy figures you see on adverts and on car brochures changed everywhere in 2020, from the old NEDC system to a newer and stricter WLTP test. The newer figures might look lower, but that doesn’t mean your new car is less efficient – the newer WLTP test is more realistic. There is no guarantee that you will get the official figure, but it is at least more representative of what you should achieve.
These are the most efficient petrol and diesel models you can buy in the UK in 2022.
Toyota Yaris – 68.8mpg
Toyota was one of the first manufacturers to really commit to hybrid engines and all that experience shows in the economy offered by the small Yaris hatchback. It has a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with a battery and electric motor that work together to give you an official economy of 68.8mpg.
You get good value for money on the equipment front too, with even the basic model coming with a reversing camera, an automatic gearbox and a seven-inch touchscreen as standard.
Volkswagen Golf – 68.9mpg
The Golf has been transporting families in style and comfort for eight generations now, and these days it comes with a huge range of different engines – petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid are all available.
If you want the maximum economy then there is still a strong argument to look at the diesel, with close to 70mpg possible. This doesn’t come at the expense of driving ability, though, as this is still a sharp car to drive. It comes with a modern and classy interior, too, with a high-tech and quality finish to the cabin. So, you’ll have enough money leftover for those cool custom licence plates after all.
Vauxhall Corsa – 70.6mpg
The Vauxhall Corsa is another long-established name, but since 2019 it shares much of its underneath elements with another small car in this list – the Peugeot 208.
One of the Vauxhall’s USPs is a set of tempting finance offers, but it will also lure plenty in with its 70mpg+ fuel economy. In this case this comes courtesy of a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a manual gearbox. This little unit will nip around town happily but will also sit at a comfy cruise on the motorway.
Citroen C3 – 70.6mpg
There isn’t much between the top three cars on this list but all of them have their own twist on the supermini formula and Citroen goes big on comfort. The C3 doesn’t even pretend to be sporty and instead has one of the softest suspension setups you can get. There is a little more space on offer inside the cabin, too, so you should have a bit more room for people and their stuff.
Otherwise, the equation is the same, with a 1.5-litre diesel engine and the six-speed manual gearbox.
Peugeot 208 – 71.4mpg
The latest version of the Peugeot 208 is the most economical car on this list, despite boasting the same 1.5-litre diesel and six-speed manual gearbox as the other two cars immediately below it.
It’s more than just an eco-champion though, with a stylish design, classy interior and loads of great tech in the cabin, including a clever 3D-style head-up display that puts the key driving data in your line of view. There are quicker engines available in this car, but this is the one for making the fuel in your tank go the furthest.