Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » What's the best small 4x4 with the lowest fuel costs?
What do you think of Elon Musk? Have your say | No thanks

What's the best small 4x4 with the lowest fuel costs?

I live in the depth of the countryside and now have to travel 65-miles (round trip) to work on a variety of roads. I'm currently driving a 1.2 petrol SEAT Ibiza (2010 model) which is eating through fuel as it struggles with the hills a bit. I need something that has capability to handle slightly adverse weather and roads but still has a degree of comfort and not too thirsty. Am I asking for too much? I've started searching online and wondering if Rav4/Jimny/Panda might be worth considering?

Asked on 21 November 2018 by Emily Gordon

Answered by Andrew Brady
It sounds like a small 4x4 like the ones you've suggested would work well for your commute, but they will be thirstier than your current Ibiza. I'm a big fan of the Suzuki Jimny but the old model will get tiring for 65 miles a day, and the new one's not much better in that respect. Have you considered the Suzuki Ignis? It's a small car rather than a 'proper' 4x4, but it is available with a frugal hybrid system and 4x4, which should help on rural roads in poor weather conditions.

Exclusive to Honest John users: 12% off ALA GAP Insurance

Reader Offer: 12% off ALA GAP Insurance

Real MPG enables you to register the fuel economy you are actually getting against your make and model of car, its engine and type of transmission.

Every time you enter an average consumption figure against your car, the overall average automatically adjusts to reflect it.

Real MPG
Similar questions
We can no longer buy the Daihatsu Terios in the UK. Should we keep our current model (90,000 miles) or is there something similar available?
We've just moved to a rural area, where the twice daily school run involves 6-8 miles - each way - of narrow lanes, which are sometimes flooded and muddy. And they will be soon be icy and snowy too! We're...
My wife is nagging me about the mpg of our 2009 Qashqai 2.0dci. I told Nissan we were disappointed compared with our 2001 Scenic 1.9dci, but got a non-committal response. The computer is indicating 36.7,...
Related models
Outstanding ability off-road. Cute looks, especially as a soft-top. Cheap to buy.
Practical with a good boot and plenty of rear leg room. 2.5 hybrid with 2WD or 4WD available. Five year warranty. Proving very reliable.
Distinctive styling. Low running costs. Available with all-wheel drive. Surprisingly spacious rear seats.