In-depth reviews

Vauxhall Ampera hatchback (2012-2014) - MPG, running costs & CO2

Super-low Vauxhall Ampera running costs are hugely attractive

Carbuyer Rating

3.5 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.7 out of 5

Read owner reviews
MPG, running costs & CO2 Rating

4.4 out of 5

No two ways about it – the Ampera is an expensive car to buy. And that’s even with the government’s electric-vehicle grant of £5,000 taken in to account. The Vauxhall costs thousands of pounds more than most of its electric, hybrid and even diesel rivals. However, once you’ve got over the Ampera's whopping price tag, the reward is super-low daily running costs. Charging the battery fully costs about £1, which gives you a range of about 50 miles, depending on how hard you push the car and how many gadgets you have turned on.

It also qualifies for 5% BiK (Benefit-in-Kind) company-car tax, which is particularly low, while owners don't have to pay road tax or the London Congestion Charge. However, electric-car resale values are still something of an unknown in the long-term, so you risk losing a lot of money in depreciation when the times comes to sell.

Vauxhall Ampera MPG & CO2

Official CO2 emissions are a rock-bottom 27g/km, while the claimed fuel economy figure is a stupendous 235.4mpg, so there's no road tax to pay and you'll spend hardly any time or money in petrol stations.

Vauxhall Ampera insurance group

Even though there’s only one engine in the Ampera, the two trim levels (Positiv and Electron) have different insurance ratings: group 20 and 21 respectively. The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid will be cheaper to cover, as it’s in insurance group 15, while the all-electric Nissan Leaf will be costlier, falling into group 22.

Vauxhall Ampera warranty

The Ampera gets the same basic three-year/60,000-mile warranty as any other Vauxhall (and a lot of other cars), but the battery pack has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for added peace of mind.

Vauxhall Ampera servicing

Vauxhall claims servicing costs will be less than for a conventional car, as the Ampera has simpler mechanicals and fewer moving parts. The brand also offers free collection and delivery if the car needs servicing or fixing, plus a courtesy replacement car, too.

Next Steps

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Most Popular

Engine management light: top 5 causes of amber engine warning light
Engine warning light
Tips and advice
1 Dec 2023

Engine management light: top 5 causes of amber engine warning light

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
8 Dec 2023

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers

Tesla Cybertruck finally delivered: specs, prices and UK availability
Tesla Cybertruck side view
News
1 Dec 2023

Tesla Cybertruck finally delivered: specs, prices and UK availability

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
20 Apr 2023

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
12 Apr 2023

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors 2022
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors 2022

Top 10 best electric cars 2023
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
15 Nov 2023

Top 10 best electric cars 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
17 May 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
18 Aug 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023