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real-mpg-the-most-economical-cars-revealed

Filling up with fuel&nbsp;is an expensive business right now, so if you're thinking of changing your car, there's a good chance that getting something more efficient is a high priority.

The trouble is the&nbsp;official government fuel economy figures you'll see printed in sales brochures are often misleading, proving impossible&nbsp;to match&nbsp;in real-world conditions.

That's why we&nbsp;carry out our own&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/real-mpg-calculator">Real MPG</a>&nbsp;tests, which show what's achievable&nbsp;if you’re driving gently and sticking to speed limits, but aren’t resorting to any unrealistically slow acceleration or special 'hypermiling' techniques.

Here we're taking a look at&nbsp;the 10 most efficient cars we've ever tested.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Real MPG: The most economical cars revealed

Hatchback

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

BALENO

Real MPG Average&nbsp;55.2mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;46.6mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;49.9mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;70.4mpg

Sold between 2016 and 2019, the Baleno is a small yet practical hatchback that will also cost you a pittance to buy and run. You'd never describe it as fun to drive, with handling that’s competent, but not remotely engaging, although the Baleno does offer a pretty comfy ride. You can get a Baleno with one of two engines: the 1.0-litre petrol we tested, and a 1.2-litre mild hybrid, not dissimilar to the one in the Ignis.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/baleno/hatchback/used-review/n24328">Suzuki Baleno (2016-2019)&nbsp;review</a>

10: Suzuki Baleno 1.0

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Spacious interior and boot</li>
	<li>Affordable buying and running costs</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>Flimsy feeling interior</li>
	<li>Unrefined and noisy at speed</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

Real MPG Average&nbsp;56.0mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;44.3mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;51.9mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;72.2mpg

It's been around for a while, but the Up remains a solid choice if you're in the market for a small car, thanks to its smart interior and fun handling. This 1.0-litre petrol engine may only have 59bhp, but that’s still plenty of pep for city streets. You'll quickly feel out-matched on the motorway, though. The Up has now been removed from Volkswagen's new car line-up, but there are plenty of examples available on the used market.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/used-review/n794">Volkswagen Up (2012-2023)&nbsp;review</a>

9: Volkswagen Up 1.0 S/S 60

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride and fun to drive</li>
	<li>Economical three-cylinder engine</li>
	<li>Upmarket interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Some rivals are better value</li>
	<li>Smaller engines are sluggish</li>
	<li>Optional automatic gearbox is slow and jerky</li>
</ul>

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

LEON

Real MPG Average&nbsp;56.0mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;46.3mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;50.9mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;71.7mpg

The Leon is Seat's answer to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>&nbsp;and Vauxhall Astra, and this previous-generation version makes a fantastic used buy. In addition to its impressive real-world fuel economy, the Leon offers tidy handling – although it’s pipped by the Focus for all-out fun factor – and a long list of standard equipment, for a reasonable price. The trade-off for its sporty character is a rather firm ride, but if that doesn’t bother you, the Leon won’t disappoint.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/used-review/n805">Seat Leon (2013-2020) review</a>

8: Seat Leon 1.6 TDI 110 Ecomotive

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Cheap to buy and run</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Not as refined as some rivals</li>
	<li>Bland interior</li>
</ul>

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

JAZZ

Real MPG Average&nbsp;56.0mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;68.8mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;43.4mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;73.0mpg

The Jazz's party piece is its practical interior. No other small car can offer rear seat occupants as much space as the Jazz and, when those seats are vacated, they can be flipped up to create a second, vast boot space. The Jazz is also very well equipped, and pretty comfortable on the move. As with the Yaris Cross and Yaris, the key to its efficiency is its hybrid system, that can run the car purely on electric power for short distances.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz&nbsp;review</a>

7: Honda Jazz 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious interior with flexible rear seats</li>
	<li>Lots of standard equipment</li>
	<li>Slow depreciation</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very pricey by small car standards</li>
	<li>Not the quietest cruiser</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more fun</li>
</ul>

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

ASTRA

Real MPG Average&nbsp;56.3mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;46.4mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;50.7mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;73.7mpg

For a long time, we didn't rate the Astra particularly highly, but this was the generation that changed that. It had a lightweight construction, which helped efficiency, and managed to be more spacious inside than its predecessor whilst becoming smaller on the outside.

And, as well as being cheap to fuel, the 1.6-litre diesel engine we tested was the cheapest of the three on offer when it was new, so used prices are tempting. These Astras do have a less-than-perfect reliability record, though.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/used-review/n17406">Vauxhall Astra (2015-2021) review</a>

6: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi 110 Ecoflex

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Relatively cheap to buy</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>Diesels can be noisy</li>
	<li>Low-speed ride can be fidgety</li>
	<li>Reliability mixed</li>
</ul>

CELERIO

Real MPG Average&nbsp;57.8mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;47.0mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;53.3mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;73.5mpg

Despite being one of the cheapest new cars around until it was taken off sale in 2019, buyers of a Celerio in mid-range SZ3 trim were treated to a decent array of equipment, including air conditioning, a DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity.

The 1.0-litre petrol engine we tested was the only one you could get in the Celerio, but that’s no bad thing – it’s quiet and smooth, as well as being the most frugal petrol engine we’ve tested which does without any hybrid assistance.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/celerio/hatchback/used-review/n924">Suzuki Celerio (2016-2019) review</a>

5: Suzuki Celerio 1.0

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cheap to run</li>
	<li>Spacious by class standards</li>
	<li>Reliability record</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cheap-feeling interior</li>
	<li>Limited infotainment options</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

OCTAVIA

Real MPG Average&nbsp;57.9mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;50.5mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;52.1mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;72.6mpg

If you cover enough annual miles to justify having a diesel engine, then this 2.0-litre unit in the Skoda Octavia will save you a bundle on running costs. The Octavia is a seriously impressive<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">&nbsp;family car</a>&nbsp;in other respects, too; its boot dwarfs that of every other car in this top 10, and it’s a great place to be, with a spacious interior and a plush ride. Unfortunately, this engine is no longer available, but there are plenty of examples on the used market.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/used-review/n23452">Skoda Octavia (2020-present)&nbsp;review</a>

4: Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI 115

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Enormous boot</li>
	<li>Plenty of rear-seat space</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ride can sometimes be a little too floaty</li>
	<li>Fiddly touchscreen</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more refined</li>
	<li>Reliability can be an issue</li>
</ul>

IGNIS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;59.9mpg&nbsp;|&nbsp;Town&nbsp;51.3mpg&nbsp;|&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;53.3mpg&nbsp;|&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;74.8mpg

This version of the Ignis SUV is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a>, which means a small electric motor works alongside its 1.2-litre petrol engine to help get you moving more efficiently and reduce the strain on the engine – and our results suggest it does a pretty good job.

If maximum efficiency is what you’re after, you’ll want to stick with this front-wheel-drive version, but even if you decide four-wheel drive is a must, the average Real MPG only drops to 53.3mpg.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/ignis/hatchback/review/n17225">Suzuki Ignis review</a>

3: Suzuki Ignis K12D 1.2 Dualjet Hybrid

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good fuel economy</li>
	<li>Spacious for a small car</li>
	<li>Generous equipment</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ride can be fidgety</li>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>Poor infotainment system</li>
</ul>

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

YARIS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;59.93mpg&nbsp;|&nbsp;Town&nbsp;80.0mpg&nbsp;|&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;46.7mpg&nbsp;|&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;74.1mpg

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">Hybrid cars</a>&nbsp;don't come any cheaper than the latest Toyota Yaris, yet it's also exceptionally frugal, having only been beaten by its Yaris Cross sister in our testing. Add in perky performance and the peace of mind offered by Toyota’s excellent reliability record, and it's easy to recommend. However, for those who often travel fully laden, small car rivals such as the Honda Jazz and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>&nbsp;offer more space for rear passengers and luggage.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31">Toyota Yaris review</a>

2: Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Excellent real-world fuel economy</li>
	<li>Toyota's reliability record</li>
	<li>Slow predicted depreciation</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride, especially on higher-spec models with bigger wheels</li>
	<li>Poor rear passenger space</li>
	<li>So-so interior quality</li>
</ul>

Estate

YARIS CROSS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;60.1mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;103.3mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;45.5mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;70.5mpg

Take the ultra-efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor from the Toyota Yaris, then stick it in a car with chunkier styling, and the result is the Yaris Cross. To many people, its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>&nbsp;dimensions will instantly make it more desirable. And, thanks to a bigger battery, it can actually go farther on electric power than its hatchback sibling.

Indeed, the Yaris Cross is the most efficient car we've ever tested, not only averaging more than 60mpg, but managing a staggering 103.3mpg in the urban part of our test.

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris-cross/estate/review/n23440">Toyota Yaris Cross review</a>

1: Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very efficient</li>
	<li>Lofty driving position</li>
	<li>Uncluttered dashboard is easy to use</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Could be more spacious in the back seats</li>
	<li>Vocal engine when accelerating</li>
	<li>Not as fun to drive as the Ford Puma</li>
</ul>

<hr />
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<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/real-mpg-calculator">Find out your car's Real MPG</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</h2>

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