Real MPG: Most economical family cars
Looking for an efficient family car to keep fuel bills low? Our Real MPG tests reveal the economy you can really expect...
Family cars tend to lead tough lives, carrying people and luggage on long and short journeys alike. That means it’s particularly important to know how many miles you’ll be able to eke from a gallon of fuel, no matter where life takes you.
Fortunately, our Real MPG tests can help. Rather than relying on often-optimistic official WLTP or NEDC fuel economy figures, our results show what’s achievable – around town, on motorways and in the countryside – if you drive gently, but without resorting to complicated ‘hypermiling’ fuel-saving techniques.
In our testing, it was the Skoda Octavia that proved most frugal. With the 2.0 TDI 115 diesel engine, it achieved a class-topping average figure of 57.9mpg.
How we test for a car’s Real MPG
Our Real MPG tests are conducted in laboratory conditions designed to simulate real-world driving. We favour this approach because it delivers comparable results which can’t be influenced by factors such as weather, temperatures or erratic traffic conditions.
To more accurately reflect how drivers really use their cars, our laboratory tests are based on real-world driving routes, which take in motorway, town and rural roads.
As a further control measure, all cars are thoroughly prepared ahead of testing to ensure they’re in the condition the manufacturer recommends. This includes ensuring all tyres are correctly inflated.
The tests are performed in a temperature-controlled environment, with headlights off and the climate control set to 21 degrees (or the midway point if the car has manual air conditioning), operating with its slowest fan setting.
The resulting fuel economy figures are calculated using measurements of the car’s exhaust emissions, which are then translated into our definitive Real MPG figure.
Read more: How we test a car's Real MPG
Our pick: 1.5 TSI 150 SE L 5dr
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Enormous boot
- Plenty of rear-seat space
Weaknesses
- Ride can sometimes be a little too floaty
- Fiddly touchscreen
- Some rivals are more refined
- Reliability can be an issue
WLTP MPG 64.8mpg | Real MPG Average 57.9mpg | Town 50.5mpg | Motorway 52.1mpg | Rural 72.6mpg
The first car on our list, and the most economical family car, is the Skoda Octavia. It’s one of the largest and most practical here, too, which makes its efficiency all the more impressive. Its high Real MPG score also goes to prove that diesel power still has plenty to offer drivers who cover big distances on a regular basis.
The 2.0-litre, 114bhp TDI diesel engine might lack the outright shove of the more gutsy 148bhp version, but our road testers found it’s still plenty powerful. This version has now been replaced by an updated Skoda Octavia, but the engine line-up hasn't changed much.
Read our full used Skoda Octavia review
Our pick: 1.2 Turbo 130 GS 5dr
Strengths
- Spacious interior
- Relatively cheap to buy
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Vague steering
- Diesels can be noisy
- Low-speed ride can be fidgety
- Reliability mixed
NEDC MPG 83.1mpg | Real MPG Average 56.3mpg | Town 46.4mpg | Motorway 50.7mpg | Rural 73.7mpg
If you’re looking for rock-bottom running costs, then this particular Vauxhall Astra could fit the bill. Not only is the fuel economy mightily impressive, but heavy depreciation means it represents huge value for money as a used purchase – especially if you choose one with the frugal 1.6-litre diesel engine tested here.
This 109bhp version is the entry-level diesel, but it offers exceptional economy – at the hands of our Real MPG testers, it achieved a remarkable 56.3mpg overall. The 73.7mpg it achieved in the rural section of our test is the best of any family car, making it the best cost-cutting choice if you regularly find yourself on winding country roads.
Read our full used Vauxhall Astra review
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Well equipped
- Cheap to buy and run
Weaknesses
- Firm ride
- Not as refined as some rivals
- Bland interior
NEDC MPG 78.5mpg | Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 46.3mpg | Motorway 50.9mpg | Rural 71.7mpg
The previous-generation Seat Leon is one of the best used family cars around, because it’s great to drive and affordable to buy. The 1.6-litre diesel achieved a superb average of 56.0mpg in Ecomotive trim, a model which benefits from slightly sleeker bodywork and a revised gearbox, so it should prove affordable to run as well.
The 1.0-litre petrol version, which recorded an average figure of 51.8mpg, deserves a special mention because it’s the most economical petrol-powered family car we’ve tested. Of the two Leons, it’s the better-suited to those who do lots of short journeys around town – situations where diesels can struggle due to the likelihood of their particulate filters becoming clogged.
Read our full used Seat Leon review
Our pick: 1.8 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT
Strengths
- Low CO2 emissions and great fuel economy
- Comfortable ride
- Loads of standard kit
Weaknesses
- Cramped in the back
- So-so infotainment system
- 12.3in digital instrument cluster could be easier to use
WLTP MPG 57.7mpg | Real MPG Average 53.3mpg | Town 90.6mpg | Motorway 40.8mpg | Rural 60.8mpg
To become our 2024 Family Car of the Year, the Toyota Corolla had to prove its excellence in all areas; its impressive real-world fuel economy is just a small part of what makes it great. That’s not to say you should overlook the achievement, though. Hybrid cars tend to be more efficient around town, and our test car – an entry-level 1.8 Hybrid – was no exception: it returned 90.6mpg in the urban portion of the test.
The Corolla also comes very well-equipped, and is one of the comfiest family cars around, meaning you can enjoy your journey safe in the knowledge that your fuel bills won’t get out of hand.
Read our full Toyota Corolla review
Our pick: 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV Titanium 5dr
Strengths
- Fun to drive
- Punchy yet economical petrol engines
- Roomy interior
Weaknesses
- Sub-par interior quality
- Ride firmer than those of rivals (more so ST-Line)
- The Skoda Octavia has an even bigger boot
WLTP MPG 61.4mpg | Real MPG Average 52.4mpg | Town 45.2mpg | Motorway 47.0mpg | Rural 66.2mpg
An early example of the current Ford Focus can make a great used buy, which should come as a relief if you’re looking to put a diesel-powered Focus on your driveway – this version was dropped from the brand’s line-up in 2023.
While we’d steer most buyers towards petrol-engined alternatives, this frugal diesel is still a great choice for drivers who cover a lot of miles on motorways or rural roads. For context, we’ve also put a petrol-powered Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost 125 through our Real MPG test; that car managed 44.1mpg on average.
Read our full used Ford Focus review
Our pick: 1.2 Turbo 130 GS 5dr
Strengths
- Well equipped
- Big boot
- Reasonable buying and running costs
Weaknesses
- Rivals offer more rear seat space
- Ford Focus and Seat Leon are better to drive
- Question mark around Vauxhall's reliability record
WLTP MPG 57.6mpg | Real MPG Average 51.5mpg | Town 46.1mpg | Motorway 46.0mpg | Rural 63.8mpg
As with the Focus, if you want a diesel-engined Vauxhall Astra you’re limited to what’s available on the used car market. While the Astra’s average Real MPG is slightly worse than that of the Focus, the former actually performed better around town, by a margin of 0.9mpg.
That said, it’s on longer journeys that diesel cars tend to make the most sense, and the Ford is more efficient at higher speeds. Plus, the Focus is better to drive, so it’s the one we’d recommend if you’re torn between the two.
Read our full used Vauxhall Astra review
Our pick: 1.6 Hybrid Allure 5dr e-EAT8
Strengths
- Plug-in hybrid offers attractive tax bills
- Smart interior
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Cramped rear seats
- Disappointing to drive
- Sluggish infotainment system
WLTP MPG 65.4mpg | Real MPG Average 50.4mpg | Town 44.1mpg | Motorway 45.4mpg | Rural 62.7mpg
The Peugeot 308 bucks the trend set by the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, because you can still buy a new 308 with a diesel engine – the same engine you used to be able to get in the Vauxhall, no less. It proved slightly less economical across the board in the Peugeot, though, and the 308 still lacks the fun-to-drive gene that the Focus and Seat Leon benefit from.
On a more positive note, running a plug-in hybrid 308 as a long-term test car in 2023 reminded us that you can still get a practical and fine-driving family mover without stepping up to a family SUV.
Read our full Peugeot 308 review
Strengths
- Smooth ride
- Enjoyable to drive
- Upmarket interior
Weaknesses
- Not as cheap as some of its rivals
- Could be more spacious
- Reliability only average
NEDC MPG 58.9mpg | Real MPG Average 49.7mpg | Town 40.0mpg | Motorway 45.3mpg | Rural 64.6mpg
A small engine in a fairly large car sounds sensible on paper, but often they need to work too hard to haul the vehicle’s mass (the 37.7mpg Vauxhall Astra 1.2 Turbo 130 is a case in point). So it’s great to see the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI appearing in our list of the most economical family cars.
Its round-town average of 40.0mpg is good for a petrol-powered car, although its overall figure is dragged down by its motorway economy – proving that this is a family car that’s best suited to urban life.
Read our full used Volkswagen Golf review
Our pick: 2.0 eHEV Sport 5dr CVT
Strengths
- Impressive fuel economy
- Big boot
- Lots of luxury and safety kit
Weaknesses
- Quite pricey
- Rear head room isn't great
- Road noise intrudes
WLTP MPG 56.5mpg | Real MPG Average 49.5mpg | Town 84.6mpg | Motorway 38.5mpg | Rural 56.4mpg
The Honda Civic is a former favourite in the family car class, and still makes a great buy if you’re after a frugal and high-quality hatchback. It can’t quite match the Toyota Corolla for efficiency, but the hybrid setup in the Civic delivers punchier performance than even the 2.0-litre Corolla.
The Toyota is the one to go for if ride comfort is your top priority, but the Honda is more engaging to drive, and has a smarter-looking interior.
Read our full Honda Civic review
Strengths
- Comfortable ride and tidy handling
- Spacious rear seats and a big boot
- Cheap to buy and run
Weaknesses
- No hybrid option
- So-so reliability record
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
WLTP MPG 49.7mpg | Real MPG Average 49.3mpg | Town 40.7mpg | Motorway 44.5mpg | Rural 63.8mpg
As if a family car with a 1.0-litre petrol engine making it onto this list wasn’t impressive enough, this Skoda Scala proved more economical than the hybrid Honda Civic on the rural and motorway sections of our Real MPG test, despite undercutting it by thousands on price. In fact, the Scala is one of the most affordable cars on this list.
The 113bhp TSI 115 petrol variant we tested was discontinued in 2020, but used examples aren’t too hard to come by.
Read our full used Skoda Scala review
And the least economical family cars...
WLTP MPG: 42.8mpg | Real MPG Average: 36.3mpg | Town: 25.4mpg | Motorway: 35.5mpg | Rural: 48.2mpg. The BMW 1 Series is great to drive and superbly built, but it's also the thirstiest family car we've ever put through our Real MPG test. Read our review
NEDC MPG: 56.5mpg | Real MPG Average: 36.8mpg | Town: 28.5mpg | Motorway: 34.7mpg | Rural: 47.1mpg. The previous-generation A3 is an excellent used family car, but if you're looking to keep running costs down the diesel version is a better bet. Read our review
WLTP MPG: 43.3mpg | Real MPG Average: 37.7mpg | Town: 29.8mpg | Motorway: 35.3mpg | Rural: 48.1mpg. This petrol-powered version of Vauxhall's family car fell almost 14mpg short of the equivalent diesel in our testing, but if you want a non-electrified Astra it's y... Read our review
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