Most economical cars
With fuel prices rising, manufacturers are continually striving to drive down costs and meet ever-more stringent emissions laws by producing cleaner, more efficient cars.
Here, we’ve collated a list of the top 10 most economical cars on sale in the UK. We’ve left out the all-electric Nissan Leaf, range-extending Vauxhall Ampera and popular Toyota Prius, choosing to focus on those with a conventional combustion engine, many of which boast hybrid-rivalling economy.
Unsurprisingly our list is made up entirely of diesels. Their superior efficiency is unavoidable, with every one of our 10 boasting economy of more than 80mpg.
So, if you’re in the market for some tax-busting transport, be sure to browse our choices below.
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1
Hyundai i20 hatchback
£9,995 - £14,295
Not only is the Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi Blue the most affordable diesel car to run, it’s also among the cheapest to buy. It does an incredible 88.3mpg, emits just 84g/km of CO2 and prices start at £11,795. Standard kit is impressive and all cars come with an extensive five-year warranty.
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2
Kia Rio hatchback
£9,995 - £14,895
The Kia Rio EcoDynamics shares its 1.1-litre diesel engine with our winner – the Hyundai i20 – so it’s no surprise that it finds itself so close to the top. Special gearing, low rolling resistance tyres and aerodynamic bodywork all help the Rio to return 88mpg and emit 85g/km.
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3
smart fortwo micro car
£9,575 - £20,370
Given the Smart’s low weight and compact dimensions, you’d expect rock-bottom running costs – and the tiny diesel version doesn’t disappoint. The rear-wheel-drive ForTwo 0.8 cdi pulse will manage 86mpg and tax-busting emissions of 86g/km of CO2. That said, it’s only got two seats and a tiny boot, so practicality is limited.
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4
Vauxhall Corsa hatchback
£9,495 - £18,080
Perhaps a surprise addition to our list. But when the Vauxhall Corsa is fitted with the nippy 1.3-litre CDTi diesel, the supermini will return 85.6mpg. What’s more, thanks to stop-start technology it’ll emit just 88g/km of CO2, making it one of the cleanest cars on sale today.
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5
Peugeot 208 hatchback
£11,045 - £18,895
The Peugeot 208 is the newest car on our list, and the 1.4-litre diesel with stop-start is the cleanest in the range. It’ll do 83.1mpg and emit just 87g/km. However, it’s not only the diesels that impress – even the most powerful petrol cars will return nearly 50mpg.
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6
Citroën C3 hatchback
£10,890 - £15,290
The super-frugal Citroen C3 Airdream comes with a relatively large 1.6-litre diesel engine. However, don’t be fooled – the eHDi will take a lengthy 16.2 seconds to reach 60mph, which is slower than nearly everything on this list. That said, it’ll manage 83mpg and emit 87g/km.
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7
Skoda Fabia hatchback
£9,835 - £15,300
All three of the Volkswagen Group cars in our list share the same engine, so it’s no surprise that the Skoda, VW and SEAT post similar economy and emissions figures. The Fabia 1.2 TDI Greenline is the cleanest of the lot, returning 83mpg and emitting 89g/km of CO2.
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8
Volkswagen Polo hatchback
£11,525 - £19,365
Volkswagen uses BlueMotion technology across its product range, but the Polo 1.2 TDI is the most efficient of them all. An aerodynamic bodykit, stop-start technology and low-rolling resistance tyres help the BlueMotion achieve 81mpg and emit a tax-free 90g/km.
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9
Renault Megane coupe
£16,780 - £26,455
The Renault Megane 1.5dCi Expression is the biggest car here, which makes the 80.7mpg economy and 90g/km of emissions even more impressive. A rival for the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, the Megane will swallow the family and its luggage without won’t break the bank to run.
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10
SEAT Ibiza hatchback
£10,095 - £17,215
The last of the VW Group cars is the SEAT 1.2-litre Ibiza Ecomotive. With 80.7mpg economy and 92g/km emissions, the differences are tiny and the small SEAT still offers incredibly low running costs. What’s more, the Ibiza costs less than it’s Polo sibling to buy in the first place.
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