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Most fuel efficient cars of 2024

Affordable motoring has rarely been as important as it is now, so our guide of the most efficient cars on sale in 2024 has a handy selection of fuel-sipping models.

We've taken the executive decision to exclude plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) from this rundown, as while many of these officially return 200mpg or more, this assumes you'll be plugging in regularly and treating them as short-range electric cars. Moreover, if we included PHEVs this list would contain nothing else, and as we've already got a rundown of the best plug-in hybrid cars on the market, this seemed like the right call.

This guide is focussed on petrol, diesel and conventional (i.e. non plug-in) hybrids, and while we're looking on efficient models, we've tried to include a wide variety of cars, as not everyone will be after a diesel hatchback. That may mean that some of the models here are not technically among the 10 most efficient models on the market, but given official testing procedures have become so complex that a car's combined mpg figure can have a spread of more than 10mpg, a little poetic licence in selecting cars seems more than justifiable.

Peugeot 208

1. Peugeot 208 (72.2mpg-61.8mpg)

8/10
Peugeot 208 review
You'll need to opt for the diesel BlueHDi 100 engine to get the most efficient version of the 208, but do so and you'll be seeing very few filling stations. Even though this little Peugeot only has a 41-litre fuel tank, with efficiency like 72.2mpg you'll have a theoretical range of 650 miles. True, as with all official economy figures you should expect something in the region of 15% less efficiency in the real world, but even with that being the case (and taking into account the fact Peugeot list an official figure that covers a wide span), this comfortable, refined and stylish hatchback should cost little to run.
Toyota Yaris Hybrid

2. Toyota Yaris Hybrid (68.8mpg)

7/10
Toyota Yaris Hybrid review
It used to be that hybrid-engined cars were only economical in town (long motorway journeys killed their fuel consumption) and not much fun to drive. The current Yaris hybrid belies both of those theories. The little 1.5-litre hybrid engine is economical pretty much anywhere and everywhere, even when you’re thrashing it on the motorway (although you’ll need to pootle gently around town to get Toyota’s official 68mpg number). It has sharp steering and engaging responses in corners too, so its fun and you can always pretend it’s a rally-bred GR Yaris. Space in the back and boot are both lacking, but this is about economy, not keeping your passengers comfy…
Skoda Octavia

3. Skoda Octavia (68.2mpg)

8/10
Skoda Octavia review
Battery range up to 49 miles
The Skoda Octavia offers solutions to almost every motoring need. It's impressively refined on a cruise, drives very nicely indeed, represents strong value for money and is more practical than the vast majority of new cars, with excellent rear legroom and masses of boot space. The fact it does this while being able to officially return almost 70mpg if you go for the 116hp 2.0-litre diesel model is the icing on the cake, and it should definitely be on your shortlist if you're after efficient motoring.
Volkswagen Golf

4. Volkswagen Golf (67.3mpg)

7/10
Volkswagen Golf review
Opt for a VW Golf with the 115hp 2.0-litre TDI engine and you'll have one of the best all-rounders on the new-car market today, while also benefiting from a car that can officially return almost 70mpg. The latest Golf comes with all manner of powertrains, so do be sure to check out the petrol and plug-in hybrid options if you're after one but aren't convinced you want a diesel. Even the 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines return over 50mpg, so you should be getting a fuel-sipping hatchback whichever you go for.
Toyota Corolla

5. Toyota Corolla (64.1mpg)

8/10
Toyota Corolla review
The Toyota Corolla has a lot going for it, besides that excellent fuel consumption figure. With stylish looks, a driving experience that impresses and excellent build quality, it's an easy car to recommend. The petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain is also exceptionally smooth, while Toyota will give you a warranty that runs for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles if you get the car serviced within its official dealer network. The Corolla was updated for 2023 with a 1.8-litre hybrid engine that’s more powerful (it now has 140hp) but which is even more economical, which we think might be witchcraft.
Honda Jazz

6. Honda Jazz (62.8mpg)

7/10
Honda Jazz review
A small, petrol-electric hybrid makes a lot of sense if a parsimonious approach to fuel is the name of the game, making the Honda Jazz shoe-in for a shortlist. As well as being impressively frugal the Jazz is also one of the more comforable cars on the market right now, while despite its small footprint it offers an impressive amount of interior storage, while the 'magic' rear seats fold up, theatre style, allowing you to carry tall items in the back with ease.
Citroen C3

7. Citroen C3 (62.8mpg)

6/10
Citroen C3 review
France has long had a fondness for diesel, while small, light cars need less energy to move them than large, heavy ones, so it should come as little surprise that there's more than one petite, French diesel hatchback in our efficiency rundown. So while the C3 may not be as fun to drive as the Ford Fiesta, it's incredibly efficient, and a very comfortable supermini, too. Due to the complexity of modern fuel-consumption measurement the Citroen C3 doesn't have the broad spectrum of official figures quoted by the Peugeot 208 above, but as both feature the same BlueHDI 100 engine, we'd expect them to perform similarly - though the 208 is a newer car, so a) gets the nod above the C3 and b) is likely to have a slight efficiency edge.
Suzuki Swift

8. Suzuki Swift (59.7mpg).

6/10
Suzuki Swift review
The Swift is a bit of an unsung motoring hero. After all, if you want Mini-like styling and Mini-like fun behind the wheel, but can’t quite afford Mini’s prices, then the £16,995 Swift makes a pretty good substitute. The basic version comes with a super-frugal 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine, which can knock on the door of 60mpg if you’re reasonably careful. Sharp steering makes it way more fun than you’d think, but the cabin is alarmingly cheap-feeling in places and there’s not much room in the back.
BMW 3 Series

9. BMW 3 Series (56.5 mpg)

9/10
BMW 3 Series review
Battery range up to 34 miles
It might seem strange to have a compact executive car that's around 20% less efficient than some of the cars on this list, but if you're in the market for an economical car that can eat up motorway miles in impressive comfort, the BMW 3 Series 320d should be on your radar. We choose the 3 Series to demonstrate just how fuel-sipping modern diesels have become, and because it also has excellent handling and strong acceleration, proving that a life of efficiency need not be characterised by unenthusiastic performance.
Dacia Sandero

10. Dacia Sandero (52.3mpg)

8/10
Dacia Sandero review
Those after economical motoring may also be wanting to trim the purchase price of their next car, which makes Dacia a strong contender, even if the outright efficiency of Sandero we highlight might not seem compelling But hear us out, because that economy figure is for the Sandero bi-fuel; this takes its name from the fact it can run on both petrol and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) which at time of writing is around 75 pence per litre, less than half the price of standard unleaded.

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Most economical cars FAQs

Diesel is still king for longer journeys, although the best (non-plug-in) hybrids are catching up now. A Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI diesel will pretty easily do 60mpg on a gently-driven long-haul. If diesel prickles your conscience, then consider a Toyota Corolla hybrid — now that the Prius is no longer on sale, this is Toyota’s long-haul economy champion, and the updated 140hp hybrid should see you get close to 60mpg on long runs. 

There isn’t quite one magic figure as all cars are different, and different road and weather conditions will also play their part, but the simple answer here is around 50mph. That’s fast enough that the engine won’t be labouring in a low gear, but slow enough that you’re not building up too much aerodynamic resistance. You may be building up a queue of road-rage behind you, but that’s their problem…

For an average family car, you should be looking at getting at least 40-45mpg overall, including city and town driving (which is always the worst for economy). For higher performance models, or bigger, bulkier SUVs, slipping into the 30s is still just-about acceptable, but given the cost of fuel and the climate crisis, ideally you’d be looking for something that can reliably return close to 50mpg.

It's can be a little frustrating for a response to essentially say "it depends", but that's the case here. There are three main types of automatic gearbox used by car makers today, with dual clutch (DCT) and continuously variable transmissions (CVT) and more conventional torque converter 'boxes going toe-to-toe with manuals. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and while a manual gearbox might produce a fractionally better official fuel economy figure than an automatic, autos have become more and more sophisticated over the years so the difference has become increasingly negligible. How you drive has a far greater impact on economy than what gearbox your car has, and real-world driving is somewhat different than the processes involved in official testing, so while the on-paper figures might slightly favour manual cars, you may find it easier to get closer to those official numbers in a car with an automatic gearbox, simply because there are fewer variables involved (EG at what revs you change gear, which gear you select on hills, and so on). Maybe we should have just left it at "it depends"...

Yes. We can say that with certainty; like for like, a diesel engine will give greater economy than a petrol one. Mind you, with diesel much more expensive than petrol at present and diesel cars costing more to buy, whether you'll save money in the long run really does depend...

If in a manual car, change up a gear as early as you can without the engine bogging down in low revs. Remove roof boxes and roof rails, use cruise control when you can, keep an eye on the road ahead so you don't accelerate unnecessarily, don't carry excess baggage and surplus items in your boot, make sure your tyres are at the correct pressure, and drive at 60 or 65mph on the motorway rather than 70mph.

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