Beat London's Congestion Charge

For some motorists, London city driving is getting a whole lot more expensive, due to the captial's ever-increasing congestion charge. It can now cost you up to £12 per day to drive into the town's centre. In the past, big hybrid vehicles from Lexus have been exempt from the London Congestion Charge, a system that didn’t seem entirely fair.

From January 2011 it all changed, allowing all vehicles with CO2 emissions below 100g/km to pass through the city for free. Good news for motorists now given a much larger, and cheaper, pool of vehicles from which to choose from. Here's our pick of the best ten Congestion Charge beaters available.

1

Fiat 500 hatchback

£9,960 - £16,060

4.5 /5
Proof that style and fuel economy can go hand in hand. At the heart of the new Fiat is a two-cylinder, 900cc engine offering 84bhp and claimed fuel economy of 69.9mpg. The smooth engine’s an impressive performer, and completely at home around town. Good safety scores, a neat interior, and a reasonable price of £13,665 make it a solid, stylish and affordable choice.
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Fiat 500 hatchback
2

Lexus CT hatchback

CT200h SE-I

£23,786

3.7 /5
Under the skin is the familiar Prius driveline, comprising a four-cylinder petrol engine, an 81bhp electric motor and a nickel metal hydride battery. The brilliance of this is that the engine can drive the front wheels and/or charge the battery at the same time. It’s a highly efficient way of recouping braking energy as electricity, and means the Lexus (as with the Prius) has excellent fuel consumption in town, and is also capable of running for short distances on electricity alone. Ultimately, the CT isn’t class-leading, nor is it cheap, but it does serve as a warning shot over the heads of German rivals as to which way prestige motoring has to go.
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3

Citroën DS3 hatchback

e-HDi 90 Airdream DStyle 95g

£14,800

4.5 /5
The DS3 is Citroen's entry into the premium supermini segment and offers buyers a stylish alternative to the MINI hatchback and Alfa Romeo MiTo. It's based on the Citroen C3 but offers a more upmarket cabin and a more exciting driving experience. The efficient 89bhp diesel offers free road tax as well as a claimed 74.6mpg figure. The DS3's cabin is well built and there's plenty of luxurious soft touch materials. There are a couple of scratchy plastics but they tend to be hidden out of the way. It gets a five star Euro NCAP rating thanks to six airbags, stability control and ABS coming as standard on all models.
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4

Ford Fiesta hatchback

Edge Econetic 1.6 TDCi095 DPF

£15,045

5.0 /5
Ford's latest Fiesta ushered in a brand-new look for the firm when it was launched in 2008. Its sharp, contemporary design made it an instant hit, but this car's popularity is also down to the brilliant way it drives, not to mention the economy of the TDCi. Our only real criticism is with the limited space offered by the rear seats and cramped luggage area – which lacks the versatility of rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa. More positively, away from the city the Fiesta is a competent cruiser, and comfortable over long journeys. Don’t be tempted by the cheaper 1.4 TDCi. Higher emissions mean it isn’t congestion charge exempt.
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5

SEAT Leon hatchback

1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive S Copa

£17,880

4.4 /5
Take the chassis of the Volkswagen Golf, add sporty Spanish styling, lower the price and you have the SEAT Leon. The cabin quality is a step down from the Golf's, and in the name of sportiness SEAT sacrifices some comfort, but inside it's a spacious car big enough for four adults. A low driving position adds to the car's emphasis on performance and fun. In this case, the 1.6 TDI diesel balances strong pulling power and a combined economy of 74.4mpg. Safety features are good, with front, curtain and side airbags standard, as well as electronic stability control. However, its four-star Euro NCAP crash rating could be better these days. Its engines and electrics are all tried and tested Volkswagen units that should prove trouble-free.
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6

Toyota iQ city car

1.0 VVT-i iQ

£10,815

4.5 /5
Toyota bills the iQ as the smallest four-seat car in the world. It's certainly compact, and that's what makes the iQ a perfect city car - small and nimble, with good visibility and a surprisingly comfortable suspension set up on longer journeys. It's not all good news, though. The tiny three-cylinder engine that's fitted to our congestion charge beater lacks power on the open road, and squeezing two in to the back really is a struggle. But as an overall package - as a place to sit and to steer around city roads, not to mention as a vehicle to own - the iQ is great choice. That the tiniest Toyota is now congestion charge exempt compensates for the slightly high price tag.
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7

Skoda Fabia estate

GreenLine 1.2 TDI CR 75PS

£14,490

4.6 /5
It looks relatively compact outside, but the Skoda Fabia packs a lot of space into its dimensions. Four adults can sit in comfort, with a fifth able to perch in the middle rear seat at a squeeze. Head and legroom is decent, while the boot is deep, well shaped and easily accessed by the large hatch. A double-deck glovebox gives plenty of oddment storage, while a handy shopping holder can be added to the boot to carry small items securely. The three-cylinder diesel engine in this Greenline II isn’t the most refined, but it does offer incredible economy, with a claimed figure of over 80mpg.
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8

Volkswagen Golf hatchback

BlueMotion TDI 1.6 105 PS

£19,430

4.5 /5
The Golf exudes quality and badge appeal. It's not as much fun to drive as a Ford Focus, but the Golf instead majors on comfort and luxury. With light steering and supple suspension, the Golf drives very competently indeed. It's a great cruiser and yet still rewarding to drive on winding roads. The seats are firm and supportive and the driving position is easily adjusted to suit all shapes and sizes. Chunky, easy to operate controls, a light, accurate gearshift and suspension that's tuned for ride quality rather than outright sporting prowess all impress. Expect 62.2mpg from the BlueMotion.
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9

Volvo V50 estate

1.6 DRIVe (115)ES Start/Stop Sportswagon

£22,245

4.0 /5
Not the most exciting car to drive and like many of the cars here guilty of being a little slow, but the V50 is a smart piece of design, perhaps one of the neatest, sportiest looking estates on the market. This DRIVe variant will even delivers 72mpg! On the road the V50 never feels less than composed and secure. It also feels compact, with a direct, light feel to the steering and good all-round visibility. It's very easy to find a good driving position because of the wide range of steering wheel and seat adjustment, although the absence of a clutch footrest is a pain. Nonetheless, the controls all feel solid and well engineered, especially the gearbox - it's precise and pleasant to use.
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