200 Hp Engines With Best Fuel Economy Cars
There are so many reasons why you might want a more economical car. Whether it's to cut costs on fuel bills, or even just to ensure you can get to work on a tank of fuel before you need to stop and fill up, fuel economy can be a very important aspect when it comes to choosing your perfect car.
A more economical car is also likely to be better for the environment if it's producing fewer emissions, so if you're keen to reduce your carbon footprint, opting for a car that's burning less fuel is likely to appeal to you.
Another option is to take a look at zero-emission electric cars. The best way to cut down on your fuel bills is to stop buying fuel, but if you're not yet ready to make the jump to fully electric motoring, there are some great petrol, diesel and hybrid cars with good fuel economy available right here on BuyaCar.
Exactly which type of car is best for you will depend on how (and where) you intend drive it. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model could be a great idea if you have the option to charge the battery at home - you can cover around 30 miles in most PHEVs without using any fuel at all if you keep the battery topped up.
The trouble is, hybrid cars tend to be more expensive than petrol or diesel equivalents, so if you don't have the cash to splash, an efficient petrol hatchback with a great mpg figure might well be the best way to. Read on to find out more.
Best cars for fuel economy
- Plug-in hybrid cars
- Hybrid cars
- Diesel cars
- Petrol cars
We've listed the most efficient cars from each group below. We've only included vehicles with fuel economy figures generated from the latest official fuel economy test, known as WLTP, which provides a more realistic estimation of real-world conditions.
If you do opt for diesel, then it's worth ensuring that it complies with the latest emissions standards, known as Euro 6, to avoid additional charges such as ULEZ and CAZ. Virtually every new car registered since September 2015 has met this standard.
Best plug-in hybrid cars for fuel economy
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Toyota Prius
- Kia Niro
1. Hyundai Ioniq
Our pick Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid
Fuel economy 247.8mpg
CO2 26g/km
Used deals from £15,794
Monthly finance from £272*
It's hard to ignore the fuel economy and CO2 figures for the Hyundai Ioniq, but in truth, these are quite heavily swayed by the fact this is the plug-in hybrid version of the Ioniq. That means it's possible to drive this car using only electric power, and in fact it would technically be possible to drive this car without ever using any fuel. So a pinch of salt is required, but even so, coming close to 250mpg is quite extraordinary.
The outstanding aspect of the Ioniq Plug-in hybrid is what happens once you've got beyond the range of the fully charged battery (around 25 to 30 miles). Because although the fuel economy isn't close to those headline figures, you can still achieve around 70mpg by driving smoothly and efficiently. That's still better than any standard diesel or petrol car.
Used car prices are reasonable too, . CO2 emissions are also well within the lowest company car tax band, ensuring low rates for business users. Just don't confuse the plug-in car with the standard, less-efficient Ioniq hybrid.
HYUNDAI IONIQ BUYERS' GUIDE
2. Toyota Prius
Our pick Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Fuel economy 235mpg
CO2 28g/km
Used deals from £17,029
Monthly finance from £299*
There's really very little to split the Toyota Prius Plug-in from the Hyundai Ioniq above. Both cars can power themselves for around 30 miles with a fully-charged battery pack, and both qualify for low company car tax. They are also evenly matched when it comes to long-distance fuel economy, which can average around 70mpg as long as you're gentle on the accelerator.
However, the Prius falls behind the Ioniq when it comes to real-world practicality: the 191-litre boot is tiny, particularly compared to the 341 litres available in the Ioniq. The Prius was a big statement from Toyota when it first arrived on the market, but it can no longer claim exclusive rule over the plug-in hybrid roost.
TOYOTA PRIUS BUYERS' GUIDE
3. Kia Niro
Our pick Kia Niro
Fuel economy 201.8mpg
CO2 31g/km
Used deals from £16,250
Monthly finance from £297*
The large Kia Niro doesn't look particularly efficient, but that's part of its appeal: it's a popular crossover car, which uses the same mechanical parts as a conventional hatchback, but packages them in a taller shape for a higher driving position and a little more space.
When fully charged, the Niro's battery pack can power the car for around 25 miles, although the petrol engine does boost power when accelerating or going up hills. Despite lower official fuel economy figures than the Prius and Ioniq above, real-world efficiency is similar, so 65-70mpg on a motorway journey is achievable.
Alongside Hyundai, Kia has proven it knows how to produce great quality hybrid and electric cars on a level, or perhaps even better, than more established brands such as Toyota. So the Niro, alongside the fully electric e-Niro should be very serious considerations for any prospective buyers.
KIA NIRO BUYERS' GUIDE
Best hybrid cars for fuel economy
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Toyota Corolla
- Lexus CT
1. Hyundai Ioniq
Our pick Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
Fuel economy 62.8mpg
CO2 84g/km
Used deals from £15,794
Monthly finance from £272*
The Hyundai Ioniq hybrid may be less efficient than the plug-in version, but fuel economy is impressive for a hybrid car. Used car prices are increasingly affordable and the car's five-year warranty matches the cover offered by Toyota.
The Ioniq is also a good car in general. It's comfortable, quiet and has enough space to carry a car-load of adults.
HYUNDAI IONIQ BUYERS' GUIDE
2. Toyota Corolla
Our pick Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Fuel economy 62.7mpg
CO2 76g/km
Used deals from £17,000
Monthly finance from £261*
Toyota made hybrid cars mainstream with its Prius but the latest car doesn't make this list because the company hasn't yet published the vehicle's fuel economy figures from the latest official tests. The same technology features here in the new Toyota Corolla, though.
You may find the design of the car more appealing than the quirky Prius, and it's also nimbler to drive, with a sharper response when turning in to corners. Efficiency is similarly high, with the biggest gains to be made in slow town driving, where the hybrid system recovers energy usually lost during braking in stop-start traffic.
TOYOTA COROLLA BUYERS' GUIDE
3. Lexus CT
Our pick Lexus CT 200h
Fuel economy 59.3mpg
CO2 101g/km
Used deals from £16,590
Monthly finance from £289*
The Lexus CT is efficient, which is fortunate because the ageing hatchback has fallen behind the competition in other areas. The quality that sees Lexus regularly topping reliability charts is in evidence, but the car is firm over bumps, making life uncomfortable for passengers over unmade roads. It's cramped in the back too.
The advantage of having been on sale for several years is that used cars are cheap.
LEXUS CT BUYERS' GUIDE
Best diesel cars for fuel economy
- Peugeot 208
- Ford Focus
- Citroen C3 Aircross
1. Peugeot 208
Our pick Peugeot 208 1.5 BlueHDi 100
Fuel economy 67.7mpg
CO2 95g/km
Used deals from £5,748
Monthly finance from £113*
In some ways, this Peugeot wins the category by default because there are decreasing numbers of small and light cars that are fitted with diesel engines. That's partly down to reduced demand for diesel, and partly because diesel engines aren't suited to the shorter journeys that these cars often do. If you're covering fewer miles then the extra efficiency of diesel over petrol is less likely to repay the higher purchase price, and the exhaust filters that clean up emissions can easily become clogged without regular high-speed trips.
But if you are looking for a small car to cover long distances, then the Peugeot 208 is a decent choice. It will soon be replaced, so new car discounts are plentiful and used cars are cheap. It's smooth during motorway driving (but can become unsettled over bumps at slower speeds) and fuel economy in the real world is around 56mpg.
PEUGEOT 208 BUYERS' GUIDE
2. Ford Focus
Our pick Ford Focus 1.5 EcoBlue 95PS
Fuel economy 64.2mpg
CO2 91g/km
Used deals from £7,700
Monthly finance from £158*
Ford's new range of diesel engines are badged EcoBlue, promising extra efficiency and reduced emissions. it performs well in the official fuel economy measure but real-world testing, published by the Equa Index, shows that you'll see around 48mpg in normal driving.
Carbon dioxide emissions are below 100g/km, bringing low levels of company car tax and the car is quiet - once you've got it up to speed.
FORD FOCUS BUYERS' GUIDE
3. Citroen C3 Aircross
Our pick Citroen C3 Aircross BlueHDi 100
Fuel economy 63.1mpg
CO2 103g/km
Used deals from £10,890
Monthly finance from £167*
The C3 Aircross is unashamedly family-friendly, avoiding sleek styling and a sporty driving feel for comfort and practicality. The diesel version is a good choice, providing a shove of power without the need to rev the engine, which makes driving quieter and more relaxing.
Crucially, the car is efficient on public roads, without having to adopt a frugal driving style. Real-world testing , published in the Equa Index, estimates that 56mpg is a realistic expectation: a figure that's better than the Ford Focus, above, despite that car's higher official figure.
CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS BUYERS' GUIDE
Best petrol cars for fuel economy
- Suzuki Celerio
- Citroen C1
- Peugeot 108
1. Suzuki Celerio
Our pick Suzuki Celerio 1.0
Fuel Economy 58.9mpg
CO2 89g/km
Used deals from £4,995
Monthly finance from £97*
The key to making an efficient petrol vehicle is to start off with a car that's small and light and then to fit it with a small and light engine. The results are diesel-rivalling fuel economy figures, but performance isn't a priority.
And so, you'll need to wait 13 seconds for the Suzuki Celerio to accelerate from 0-62mph - longer if you're driving efficiently, with a light touch on the accelerator. Real-world fuel economy of around 55mpg is remarkably close to the official figure. This is a car that leans in corners, bounces over speed bumps and has a plasticky interior, but it's one of the cheapest cars on sale today, so you'll be spending very little money all round.
SUZUKI CELERIO BUYERS' GUIDE
2. Citroen C1
Our pick Citroen C1 VTi 72
Fuel economy 57.3mpg
CO2 93g/km
Used deals from £4,690
Monthly finance from £104*
If you've recently passed your driving test, then there's a good chance that the Citroen C1 is on your list of potential first cars. It's cheap, with low insurance costs and - from new - available with Citroen's SimplyDrive finance, a 'Fuel and Go' package that includes the cost of finance, insurance, servicing and tax in a single monthly payment.
The Citroen is efficient too. Real-world testing published in the Equa Index estimates that you can expect 52mpg, although acceleration is slow. It looks distinctive and newer versions come with modern gadgets, including a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with all but the entry-level Feel models.
CITROEN C1 BUYERS' GUIDE
3. Peugeot 108
Our Pick Peugeot 108 1.0
Fuel Economy 57.3mpg
CO2 93g/km
Used deals from £5,190
Monthly finance from £114*
Underneath the metal, the Peugeot 108 uses exactly the same components as the Citroen C1 (both brands are owned by the same company) so it's no surprise that fuel efficiency and emissions are identical. Like the C1, new Peugeot 108s are available with all-inclusive 'Just Add Fuel' finance, while used cars come at extremely reasonable prices.
Real-world fuel economy of 52mpg, should keep petrol station visits to a minimum, even though performance from the 72 horsepower engine is pedestrian - just as it is with the Citroen C1.
PEUGEOT 108 BUYERS' GUIDE
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.
200 Hp Engines With Best Fuel Economy Cars
Source: https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/economical-cars/1172/best-fuel-efficient-cars