Most economical cars 2022
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An economical car needs to offer more than just excellent fuel economy. While MPG is definitely one of the most important factors, you also need to consider the purchase price and running costs.
It’s also worth looking for cars with a solid reputation for reliability – less time spent in the workshop will be better for your household budget.
Here, we’ve selected 10 of the most economical cars on sale today. They’re not necessarily the most fuel-efficient, although several are, but all of them should be cheap to buy, run and maintain.
Rather than concentrating on city cars and superminis, we’ve selected a broad range of body styles, with a mix of petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains. We’ve excluded plug-in hybrids because they’re expensive to buy and require the battery to be fully charged to achieve the maximum MPG.
One thing’s for sure: you’ll be spending less time at the pumps when you own one of these economical cars.
Suzuki Swace
The Suzuki Swace is essentially a Toyota Corolla Hybrid Touring Sports wearing a different suit. This makes it one of the most fuel-efficient and practical estate cars you can buy, with a boot that offers an impressive 596 litres of luggage space. Just as importantly, its 1.8-litre petrol-electric drivetrain delivers an official 64.2mpg on a combined cycle, so you’ll become a stranger at your local petrol station. The good vibes continue with a long list of standard equipment, even on the entry-level SZ-T trim, along with prices that start from around £27,500. Combine Toyota’s reputation for reliability with Suzuki’s excellent dealer network for a win-win situation.
Peugeot 208
The Peugeot 208 was the headline act of our list of the cars with the best MPG. When powered by a 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel engine, the 208 will return a remarkable 73.6mpg, making it one of the most economical cars you can buy today. With prices starting from £21,500, the cheapest 208 diesel undercuts the most affordable e-208 electric car by £8,500, so you’ll leave the showroom with more cash in your pocket. Even the stylish and fully loaded 208 GT diesel costs just £24,500. That makes it an economical car you can buy with your head and your heart.
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Honda Jazz
If you don’t want to buy a diesel car, and you’re not prepared to fork out for an electric vehicle, a small petrol-electric hybrid makes a lot of sense. The Honda Jazz features a clever e:HEV hybrid system, which does its best to operate in electric mode whenever possible. Honda says that at speeds up to 25mph, the Jazz will run for 86 percent of the time as an EV, so it’s perfect for stop-start commuter traffic. Honda’s solid reputation for reliability will provide added peace of mind, while the official economy figure of 61.4mpg is another reason to be cheerful.
- Read our full Honda Jazz review
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Skoda Octavia
If you thought excellent fuel economy and low running costs were the preserve of city cars and superminis, the Skoda Octavia is here to change your mind. When powered by the 116hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, the Octavia should deliver 68.9mpg with a manual gearbox or 64.2mpg with the DSG automatic. Even the more powerful 150PS version offers an impressive 67.3mpg. These figures are based on the hatchback; there’s a slight decrease in fuel economy if you go for the cavernous estate version. The cheapest Octavia diesel costs less than £25,000 to buy.
- Read our full Skoda Octavia review
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Citroen C3
The Citroen C3 is powered by the same 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel engine you’ll find in the Peugeot 208. There’s only one trim level available to diesel buyers, with the Shine Plus model costing around £21,500. That’s good value for a supermini capable of achieving 70.6mpg if you’ve got a light right foot. The C3 feels noticeably different to the 208, not just in the way it looks, but also in how it drives. It’s all thanks to Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats, which feature extra padding for more long-distance comfort and softness. The C3’s ride quality is also better than the 208.
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is one of Britain’s cheapest new cars. It costs around £14,500 in entry-level Pop trim, and although you’ll probably be tempted to upgrade to a higher trim lever or add a few personalisation options, it proves you can be chic on a budget. The Pop trim just about covers the basics, with air conditioning, LED daytime running lights and a 5.0-inch media screen with Bluetooth, DAB radio and USB connectivity. Its 1.0-litre mild hybrid engine delivers a modest 70hp, but an impressive 61.4mpg on a combined test cycle. Top tip: the 500 Pop looks brilliant in optional Sicilian Orange.
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Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
The Hyundai Ioniq is a small family five-door, which is offered with a fully electrified range of drivetrains: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric. Hybrid prices start from around £24,500, which makes it the cheapest of the trio. It’s an extremely fuel-efficient car, capable of averaging 62.8mpg in the official test. CO2 emissions start from just 102g/km, highlighting the emissions-reducing ability of the 1.6-litre petrol-electric drivetrain. There’s a long list of standard equipment, even on the SE Connect model, while Hyundai’s five-year unlimited mileage warranty should keep repair bills at bay.
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Toyota Yaris Hybrid
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is probably the best economical supermini for anyone who doesn’t want a diesel engine. Its 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain produces 116hp and returns an official 68.8mpg. The system is ‘self-charging’, which means there’s no need to plug it in, and although the Yaris Hybrid doesn’t offer the electric range of a plug-in hybrid, many owners are surprised at how far they can travel in EV mode. It’s the most fuel-efficient car without a diesel engine – and it’s worth remembering that petrol is cheaper to buy than diesel. Yaris prices start from around £21,000.
Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa also shares a platform and range of engines with the Peugeot 208. It’s packaged in a slightly different way, but the availability of the 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine means you can expect fuel economy of 70.6mpg if you’re careful. Unlike most of the cars on this list, the Corsa diesel sneaks below the £20,000 mark, with the SE trim available for around £19,500. This model features 16-inch alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch infotainment system, USB connection, traffic sign recognition and forward collision alert. Upgrading to the Elite Edition adds £2,000 to the price, but bundles of extra equipment.
Dacia Sandero
There are many other economical cars we could have mentioned, including diesel versions of the Citroen C4, Citroen C3 Aircross, Ford Focus and SEAT Leon, plus the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris Cross hybrids. We’ve selected the Dacia Sandero because, in Essential trim, it costs around £11,500, making it the cheapest new car on sale today. Its 90hp TCe 90 petrol engine offers an official 53.3mpg, and while this is less efficient than other cars on this list, the low purchase price makes the Sandero a highly economical car.
Which cars can get 70mpg?
The 1.5-litre diesel engine found in the Citroen C3, Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa is capable of delivering 70mpg on a combined cycle test. It’s proof that the diesel engine still has a role to play in the lives of motorists looking for excellent fuel economy. You’ll also find the same engine in the larger Citroen C4, Citroen C3 Aircross and Peugeot 2008. Other cars close to the magic 70mpg mark include the Skoda Octavia SE and Toyota Yaris Hybrid.
Which cars are the most economical?
Electric cars offer the lowest running costs, but the savings are reduced by expensive list prices. On paper, a plug-in hybrid offers the best fuel economy, but the official figures are based on cars with fully charged batteries. For now, ‘self-charging’ hybrids and diesel engines offer the best blend of fuel economy and costs, but a small turbocharged petrol engine makes a lot of sense if you spend most of your time in the city.
Should I buy a petrol or diesel car?
A diesel car still makes sense if you cover at least 12,000 miles a year. On long journeys, anything from 50mpg to 70mpg is achievable, although the stigma of driving a diesel car has become a barrier to many people. It’s also worth noting that diesel cars are more expensive to buy. A car with a petrol engine is recommended for short trips and city use. Look at the new breed of mild hybrid and full hybrid cars for the best fuel economy.
