Most economical cars 2024
You don't need us to tell you that fuel is expensive. Watching the price go up and up as you fill the tank can be a painful experience, and that's before you've faced the challenge of walking to the counter without buying an overpriced chocolate bar.
It's hardly surprising, then, that you're looking for an economical car. As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, owning a car that can squeeze the most miles out of a tank of fuel can be a real help, leaving you with more cash in the bank come payday.
Here, we're focusing on economical cars with a petrol engine. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, petrol is cheaper than diesel. Secondly, petrol engines are increasingly just as economical as their diesel counterparts, especially if you spend a lot of time driving in towns and cities.
Many of our choices are 'self-charging hybrid' cars, which spend a lot of time in electric mode in towns and cities. Here are some of the most economical cars on sale today.
Most economical cars
|
.jpg?width=620)
Toyota Yaris Hybrid
The latest Toyota Yaris Hybrid is an exceptionally fuel-efficient car. It officially averages up to 68.8mpg, a figure that is achieved without owners having to plug it in to charge the batteries. The technology is termed ‘self-charging hybrid’ by Toyota, and is a great hands-off solution. Yaris Hybrid owners are often surprised by how far their car can travel as an EV – more than half a city-bound journey is frequently conducted in electric mode – and this means real-world fuel economy is impressive, too. The fact that the latest Yaris looks so sporty and eye-catching adds further appeal to Toyota’s increasingly popular fuel-saving small car.
Renault Clio E-Tech
Renault has developed a clever new hybrid system called E-Tech. It’s available on the Clio and Captur, and is offered in both hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms. Here, we’re looking at the Clio E-Tech hybrid, a hands-off system that doesn’t need to be plugged in. Despite this, the French hatchback is still capable of averaging 67.3mpg. It’s an engaging system to use, with Renault F1-inspired engineering to bolster its real-world performance and economy. The rest of the latest Clio also appeals, with stylish good looks and an upmarket interior.
Suzuki Swace
The Suzuki Swace is an interesting hybrid car from the Japanese brand. To all intents and purposes, it’s a rebranded version of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports estate, and it’s on sale here to help lower Suzuki’s corporate average fuel economy. With an official figure of 62.7mpg, it certainly does that, achieved with help from a 1.8-litre petrol-electric engine. This is a genuine family-sized car, with ample space for passengers and a huge boot that stretches to 596 litres. The Swace is also well-equipped, easy to drive and Suzuki dealers are highly rated. It feels slightly more ‘alternative’ then a Corolla, too.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris Cross is the SUV sister-car to the regular Yaris hatchback. It uses the same hybrid drivetrain, with an ultra-efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor, CVT gearbox and self-charging battery. Average economy of 64.1mpg is really impressive for a high-riding crossover, and Toyota uses the bigger body to deliver more interior space and a roomier boot. The Yaris Cross looks assertive, with a rugged appearance that resembles a cute, downsized take on the long-running RAV4 family SUV.
.jpg?width=620)
Honda Jazz
The latest Honda Jazz comes with hybrid tech as standard. Called the e:HEV Dual Motor system, it sees the petrol engine drive one electric motor, which creates electricity to power another motor to turn the wheels. Honda’s ingenious setup means the petrol engine can be frequently and independently shut down wherever possible – resulting in official fuel economy of 62.8mpg, and real-world figures that are similarly impressive. The latest Jazz has a smart new appearance that has been inspired by the Honda e electric car, while its interior is as ultra-spacious and ingeniously designed as ever. The brilliant flip-up Honda ‘Magic Seats’ remain, too.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Yes, another Toyota in our guide to the most economical cars: the Japanese giant really knows how to make fuel-efficient hybrids. Here, it’s the British-built Toyota Corolla Hybrid that offers fuel-saving motoring, with official average economy of 64.1mpg. The five-door hatchback has a roomy interior and a decent boot, so is good for family motoring, while the latest model also looks more distinctive than previous versions, with a sporty profile and cool LED running lights. Naturally, it is also easy to drive, extremely well-built and comes with a long warranty – up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Mazda 2 Hybrid
The Mazda 2 Hybrid is essentially a rebadged Toyota Yaris Hybrid. That means you get the same combination of a 1.5-litre 93PS three-cylinder petrol engine and a 59kW electric motor to deliver a total system output of 116PS. All interesting stuff, but the figure that really matters is the official 74.3mpg, making the Mazda one of the most economical cars on sale in Britain. There are three trim levels available – Pure, Agile and Select – with prices ranging from £24,000 to £27,000.
Suzuki Swift
Suzuki achieves almost 60mpg from the Swift’s 1.2-litre DualJet engine thanks to a mild-hybrid system. The electric assistance under acceleration means the engine doesn’t have to be worked as hard, and it can be turned off early when braking, rather than waiting for the car to come to a halt. The latest Swift is a roomy and well-packaged small supermini, and it offers impressive value for money – particularly when further enhanced by the regular special offers and finance packages offered by Suzuki’s well-liked dealer network.
Hyundai Kona Hybrid
Fresh from a 2023 facelift, the Hyundai Kona range is looking better than ever. Although the Kona Electric offers the lowest running costs, the Kona Hybrid is cheaper to buy and capable of achieving excellent fuel efficiency. It pairs a 1.6-litre engine with a 66.9kW hybrid motor to deliver a total output of 265PS, fuel economy of 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 127g/km. It also comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty for added peace of mind.
Dacia Jogger
An ultra-efficient seven-seat family SUV? Surely not. But yes, Dacia has managed it. The Jogger has seven seats as standard and comes in at an almost unbelievably low price for what you get. The hybrid model promises up to 57.7mpg. Is there a catch? Well, the hybrid model is quite a bit more expensive than the petrol Jogger, but then that’s still hugely more affordable than other hybrid seven-seaters. All-in-all, it’s a really impressive car.
Which cars have the best fuel economy?
It used to be the case that diesel cars had the best fuel economy, and by a clear margin. Modern emissions regulations have narrowed the gap, though, particularly as petrol-powered cars have themselves become more economical. Add in the fact diesel cars generally cost more than petrol cars to buy, and the overall cost savings have narrowed. Of course, plug-in hybrid cars claim even better fuel economy than either, but the real-world picture is more complex, and that’s before you consider their higher list prices…
Which is the most economical car to buy?
The most economical diesel car you can buy is the Peugeot 208 BlueHDi 100, which can achieve 71.4mpg. But if you don't want a diesel engine, take a look at the Mazda 2 Hybrid, which offers a remarkable 74.3mpg – and once you factor in the extra cost of diesel at the filling station, the difference narrows further. When it comes to the most economical car you can buy, it pays to be open-minded and not just look at overall MPG figures.
Which cars get 60mpg?
You’re in luck if you are seeking an economical car that can average at least 60 miles per gallon: most cars in this round-up can achieve that figure. That’s despite them all being fuelled by petrol, rather than more expensive-to-buy diesel. Petrol cars are likely to have better retained values going forward, too – particularly those with petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains. The 10 cars in this guide show just how diverse the most economical cars can be, with a broad array of body styles.
