Real MPG: The most economical cars revealed

Official MPG 62.7mpg | Real MPG Average 60.1mpg | Town 103.3mpg | Motorway 45.5mpg | Rural 70.5mpg

Small SUVs are exceedingly popular among car buyers at the moment thanks to their high driving positions and go-anywhere looks. And if you’re in search of low running costs, then look no further than the Toyota Yaris Cross. It returned the best results that we’ve seen from any car that has gone through our tests, particularly around town, where it scored a hugely impressive 103.3mpg.

Not only is it cheap to run, it also offers a comfortable interior, with a clean and tidy dashboard with easy controls, and an adjustable driving position which offers good visibility over the road ahead. There are rivals that are smoother to drive and more spacious, such as the Skoda Kamiq or VW T-Roc, but nothing beats the Yaris Cross when it comes to sheer efficiency.

Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review

Official MPG 68.8mpg | Real MPG Average 59.93mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 46.7mpg | Rural 74.1mpg

It’s not surprising that the Yaris Cross is followed in efficiency by its smaller sibling, the Yaris. Its strengths lie in perky performance and great fuel economy which, combined with Toyota’s excellent reliability record, means you won’t have to spend too much to keep it running. Like the Yaris Cross, it performed particularly well in the town portion of our tests, returning an impressive 80mpg.

While it’s not as fun to drive as a Renault Clio or Seat Ibiza, the Yaris has more grip through corners compared to the VW Polo, and offers nifty handling around tight corners. Other rivals are more spacious and the interior could be more plush, but it makes up for its compact size with lots of standard kit.

Read our full Toyota Yaris review

Official MPG 55.7mpg | Real MPG Average 59.9mpg | Town 51.3mpg | Motorway 53.3mpg | Rural 74.8mpg

Although it was taken off sale earlier this year, the mild hybrid version of the Ignis – which uses a small motor to assist the 1.2-litre petrol engine – can seriously cut your fuel bills. 

It is pricier to buy an Ignis outright compared with other similarly-sized cars, such as the Hyundai i10 and VW Up, but it does come with the option of four-wheel-drive, which only slightly lowers the Real MPG to 53.3mpg. When it comes to other small SUVs, such as the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke, the Ignis is significantly cheaper, but these rivals offer much more space inside.

Read our full Suzuki Ignis review

Official MPG 64.8mpg | Real MPG Average 57.9mpg | Town 50.5mpg | Motorway 52.1mpg | Rural 72.6mpg

With a 2.0-litre diesel engine, the Skoda Octavia is a solid choice if you cover a lot of annual miles, and it doesn’t cost a fortune to run, either. It makes for a fantastic family car thanks to its roomy interior and affordability in comparison with its rivals.

This version is no longer available to buy new, but you can get a used Octavia from around £9000, which is pretty good when you take into account all the kit you get as standard — and the massive boot that dwarfs competitors even from the class above.

Read our full Skoda Octavia (2020-present) review

Real MPG Average 57.8mpg | Town 47.0mpg | Motorway 53.3mpg | Rural 73.5mpg

Before it was taken off sale in 2019, the Suzuki Celerio was one of the cheapest new cars you could buy – and has the most frugal engine we’ve tested that isn’t helped by hybrid power. Combined with Suzuki’s solid reliability record, the Celerio makes for a great low-cost option that shouldn’t cause you too many problems down the line.

For a city car, it’s pretty roomy and offers good boot space, beating the similarly-sized Skoda Citigo. Mid-range SZ3 models come nicely kitted out with air conditioning, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the interior could be better quality.

Read our full Suzuki Celerio (2016-2019) review

Real MPG Average 56.3mpg | Town 46.4mpg | Motorway 50.7mpg | Rural 73.7mpg

This particular generation of the Vauxhall Astra was a vast improvement on the versions which came before. Its lightweight construction boosted efficiency, and despite being smaller than the previous Astra outside, it was roomier inside, providing more space for people and luggage. The interior was more upmarket than before, with some innovative technology.

You’re spoilt for choice with trims, but even the entry-level version comes with lots of kit. Buyers can also choose from three engine options. The most efficient is the 1.6-litre diesel, with prices for a decent model starting at around £5000. However, the Astra isn’t well-renowned for its reliability.

Read our full Vauxhall Astra (2015-2021) review

Official MPG 61.4mpg | Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 68.8mpg | Motorway 43.4mpg | Rural 73.0mpg

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of the Honda Jazz. It’s exceedingly versatile, with enough space for rear passengers to get comfortable and, when those seats aren’t in use, they can be flipped up to increase space. It’s cheap to run, too, thanks to its hybrid engine. Like other hybrids, it’s particularly efficient around town, where it scored an impressive 68.8mpg in our tests.

The Jazz’s light steering makes navigating tight urban roads a breeze, and it’s largely comfortable to drive, despite not having a huge amount of grip. While the Jazz comes with a nice quality interior and plenty of standard equipment, there are cheaper small cars out there.

Read our full Honda Jazz review

Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 46.3mpg | Motorway 50.9mpg | Rural 71.7mpg

If you asked someone to name a family car, the Seat Leon probably wouldn’t be at the front of their mind – but it should be. This particular Leon is a previous-generation version, and it’s not only cheap to run, it also offers sporty handling, but the ride is firmer than rivals such as the Ford Focus, which is a more enjoyable drive.

The Leon makes for a great family car thanks to an abundance of space in both the front and rear, as well as a sizeable boot. On top of that, it comes equipped with a long list of standard kit, all for a price that substantially undercuts rivals such as the equivalent Focus or VW Golf, making it a standout for value for money, with prices starting from just £5000.

Read our full Seat Leon (2013-2020) review

Official MPG 50.7mpg | Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 44.3mpg | Motorway 51.9mpg | Rural 72.2mpg

If you’re in search of a small car that feels and drives like a big car, then the VW Up is a fantastic option. With a spacious, upmarket interior and peppy engine designed for city streets, the Up was a huge sales success for Volkswagen until it came off the market in 2023. Now, it makes for a great used buy, with prices for a well-equipped mid-range model starting from just £3000.

While the 59bhp offered by this 1.0-litre engine can feel pretty sluggish on the motorway, it’s plenty for pootling around town. The Up is, of course, cheap to run, but the entry-level Take trim doesn’t impress with standard kit, so we’d recommend spending a little more on the higher spec models.

Read our full Volkswagen Up (2012-2023) review

Real MPG Average 55.2mpg | Town 46.6mpg | Motorway 49.9mpg | Rural 70.4mpg

Despite not being the most exciting drive, the Suzuki Baleno is a practical option that won’t break the bank to buy or run. It’s comfortable to drive with competent handling, but not particularly involving, and is easily outdone by the rival Ford Fiesta if you’re looking for driving fun.

The Baleno comes with an impressive amount of space, with an unusually large boot which can carry more luggage than rivals. It also has a touchscreen infotainment system that’s easy to see even on the move, although the interior quality isn’t anything to write home about. There are two engine options on offer: the 1.0-litre petrol tested here, and a 1.2-litre mild hybrid, which is similar to the Ignis.

Read our full Suzuki Baleno (2016-2019) review

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