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Most economical Motability cars

Want a car Motability car that will be affordable to run? We reveal the models that were most economical in our True MPG tests...

Nissan Qashqai True MPG with Nissan logo

Whether you’re spending all or part of your mobility allowance on a car on the Motability leasing scheme, you’ll want it to sip fuel gently so it doesn’t burn a hole in your bank balance. 

While car makers’ official fuel economy figures will give you an indication of the type of economy you can expect from a specific model, you’re unlikely to achieve them in real-world driving. 

To give you a much better idea of how many miles a potential car will do to the gallon – and therefore how much it will cost you to run – we’ve used our True MPG fuel economy figures to show which are the most economical cars you can lease on Motability. 

Our True MPG tests are conducted in a laboratory to ensure repeatability within 1%, but they are based on a real-world route that takes in town, rural and motorway driving.

The results reflect what's achievable if you’re driving gently and sticking to speed limits, but aren’t resorting to any unrealistically slow acceleration or special 'hypermiling' techniques.

You can find out more about the Motability Scheme by reading What Car?’s full guide or heading to the Scheme's website.


The 10 most economical cars on the Motability scheme 

10. Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95

True MPG 51.8mpg

Volkswagen Polo 2021 front

Our current Small Car of the Year, the latest VW Polo is bigger and better to drive than previous versions. It has a supple ride, plenty of passenger space and a classy interior. The 1.0 95 is our pick of the engine line-up because it’s perky enough in and out of town and it’s very efficient. 

Read our full Volkswagen Polo review >>


9. Nissan Qashqai 1.5 DCI 115

True MPG 51.9mpg 

Nissan Qashqai

The Qashqai is the model credited with starting the trend for mainstream family SUVs back in 2012, and it’s come a long way since then. Although the latest version is due to be replaced in 2021, it’s still a sound proposition offering plenty of space and high levels of comfort as long as you choose the spec carefully. It’s not as roomy or as good to drive as the Seat Ateca or Skoda Karoq, but the 1.5 diesel Qashqai offers superb fuel economy. 

Read our full Nissan Qashqai review >>


8. Ford Focus 1.5 EcoBlue 120

True MPG 52.4mpg

2020 Ford Focus front action

The Focus is a common sight on our roads, and with good reason – it’s a great family car to drive and it’s a quiet cruiser with a fairly compliant ride and plenty of space for passengers and all their clutter. And if you pick the 1.5 diesel you’ll get more than 50 miles to the gallon. If you prefer petrol power, we’d recommend the 1.0 Ecoboost 125, which returned an impressive 49.6mpg in our tests. 

Read our full Ford Focus review >>


7. Seat Leon 1.0 TSI 115

True MPG 53.1mpg

Seat Leon 2020 RHD front right tracking

The Leon is a five-star What Car? family hatchback because it’s a great all-rounder. It’s great value for money, well-equipped, practical and fun to drive. The 1.0-litre petrol engine doesn’t have the same turn of speed as the larger 1.5, but it’s no slouch, and the benefit is a more meagre thirst for fuel. 

Read our full Seat Leon review >>


6. Kia Picanto 1.0 65

True MPG 53.3mpg

Kia Picanto front tracking - 69 plate

We voted the Picanto our City Car of the Year for 2020 because it’s a fine small car with a smart interior and tidy handling. The least powerful 1.0-litre engine is the most economical; it’s well suited to urban driving, but needs to be worked pretty hard once you leave the city.  

Read our full Kia Picanto review >>


5. Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95

True MPG 54.0mpg

Seat Ibiza

A former What Car? Small Car of the Year, the Ibiza is still one of the best small cars on sale. It’s fun to drive and has a roomy, practical interior. And the turbocharged 1.0 TSI 95 engine is surprisingly sprightly even though it has seriously impressive fuel economy.   

Read our full Seat Ibiza review >>


4. Renault Kadjar 1.5 dCi 110

True MPG 55.2mpg

Renault Kadjar front

The Kadjar is closely related to the hugely popular Nissan Qashqai family SUV, but if you pick one with the 1.5 diesel engine it’s a far more frugal choice. It’s also more reliable than the Qashqai, and it comes with more standard equipment - aircon, cruise control and a 7.0in infotainment system are included on the cheapest Play trim level. 

Read our full Renault Kadjar review >>


3. Volkswagen Up 1.0 75

True MPG 55.9mpg

Volkswagen Up 2020 RHD front tracking

The Up city car has been around for quite some time - in fact, it was crowned our overall Car of the Year in 2012. But it’s still well worth considering if you want a small, economical urban runabout that’s also capable of holding its own on faster A-roads and motorways, too. This 74bhp engine is the most economical of the line-up, but the punchier 89bhp 1.0 turbo also achieved almost 54mpg in our tests. 

Read our full Volkswagen Up review >>


=1. Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dualjet SHVS

True MPG 59.6mpg

Suzuki Ignis 2019 front

The SHVS version of the Ignis small SUV is front-wheel drive rather than four-wheel drive, which makes it gentler on fuel. Plus, it features mild hybrid technology, which means it has a small electric motor working alongside the 1.2-litre petrol engine. If you prefer the added grip of a four-wheel drive model, economy only dips to 53.3mpg. 

Read our full Suzuki Ignis review >>


=1. Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid

Toyota Yaris 2021 front

True MPG 59.6mpg

The Yaris hybrid is another car that has a remarkable ability to sip fuel gently; in addition to matching the average economy of the Ignis, it achieved 80mpg in town, which is almost double the economy of conventionally powered small hatchbacks. It should also be very reliable and hold its value well. Just bear in mind that the ride is quite firm and the rear seats cramped.

Read our full Toyota Yaris review >>


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