Best Cars For Fuel Consumption 2021
Get more for your money by buying a car with great fuel consumption
Buying one of the best cars for fuel consumption is a great way to keep on top of your diesel and petrol costs — the better the MPG of your vehicle, the more you get out of the fuel you buy.
We’ve listed the cars that have the best fuel economy in 2021 and explained who they’re perfect for. All you need to do is decide which car you want to buy.
10 best fuel consumption cars for 2021
- Toyota Yaris
- Peugeot 208
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Ford Focus
- Vauxhall Astra
- Renault Kadjar
- Suzuki Ignis
- Seat Leon
- Suzuki Celerio
- Toyota Prius
Toyota Yaris
Credit: Flickr
Model: Hybrid 1.5 VVT-i Icon CVT
Official fuel economy by MPG: 90
Cheaper and smaller than many of the hybrid cars, the Toyota Yaris is one of the first hybrid cars to hit the market and it leads the way for fuel consumption.
Who is it best for?
The Toyota Yaris is perfect for businesses and families that are looking for economical cars. It’s cheap to buy and has the best fuel efficiency of any car on the market right now.
Starting price: From £19,004
It’s a little over the average UK car price of £17,000 but the fuel economy of this car makes it a wise choice in the long-term, as its exceptionally good fuel consumption means you’ll spend less on running costs.
Peugeot 208
Credit: Wallpaper Flare
Model: 1.5L BlueHDi Active Premium 100 S&S
Official fuel economy by MPG: 88
The highest-rated diesel engine car on our list, the Peugeot 208 supermini offers outstanding fuel economy figures that mean it’s just 2MPG off the top spot.
Who is it best for?
As a small car, the Peugeot 208 1.5L BlueHDi is the ideal vehicle for single person business or personal trips, particularly if you’re parking in busy cities that are short on space.
Starting price: £19,160
Nicely priced for working professionals, the Peugeot 208 is also known to be pretty cheap to service which means you won’t need to spend too much to ensure it keeps ticking over.
Vauxhall Corsa
Credit: Wikimedia
Model: 1.5 Turbo D SE 102PS
Official fuel economy by MPG: 88
One of the most popular cars for UK drivers, the Vauxhall Corsa 1.5 Turbo D also has really good fuel economy and offers plenty of power.
Who is it best for?
Big enough for family driving or to carry passengers on business trips, this is a great car that suits private individuals and companies alike.
Starting price: £17,495
A good price for working families, you can generally pick up a used Vauxhall Corsa 1.5 Turbo D for just over £12,000 — if you’re hoping to keep your expenses down.
Ford Focus
Credit: Pexels
Model: 1.5L EcoBlue Zetec 120PS
Official fuel economy by MPG: 81
One of the leading diesel cars for official fuel economy, the Ford Focus 1.5L EcoBlue Zetec is on the small end size-wise, but is a superb vehicle that’s great fun to drive.
Who is it best for?
Small families and businesses will love this edition of the Ford Focus, as its comfortable interior makes it ideal for long distance motorway driving.
Starting price: £22,565
While the starting price is on the steep side, the Ford Focus scores well on the reliability rating with customers and this means you shouldn’t have to worry too much about high repair costs.
Vauxhall Astra
Credit: Flickr
Model: Hatch 1.6CDTi 16v Design 110PS ecoFLEX Start/Stop
Official fuel economy by MPG: 76
Another great, small diesel car, is still one of the best vehicles for keeping fuel costs down, despite the first model being released in 1979.
Who it’s best for:
The Vauxhall Astra scores well on car maintenance expenses, making it an excellent option for people seeking a vehicle they can keep for a long time without having to pay huge sums on upkeep and running costs.
Starting price: £19,660
While there are cheaper cars that have a low fuel consumption rate, few are as good as the Vauxhall Astra for car upkeep costs. This makes it a great investment if you’re willing to spend a little more upfront to keep down your long-term expenses.
Renault Kadjar
Credit: Flickr
Model: 1.5 dCi 110 Dynamique Nav
Official fuel economy by MPG: 74
A sensible SUV that features a stylish design and lots of space, the Renault Kadjar offers both fuel savings and practicality.
Who is it best for?
If you’re looking for a car that has excellent fuel economy and the room to carry work equipment or family essentials, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better SUV than the Renault Kadjar.
Starting price: £12,250
A superbly priced car, the Renault Kadjar is excellent value for money from the moment you buy it and throughout your ownership.
Suzuki Ignis
Credit: Wikimedia
Model: 1.2 Dualjet Hybrid SZ3
Official fuel economy by MPG: 69
A microcar that combines the eco-friendly benefits of a plug in hybrid with the convenience of a petrol engine, the Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dualjet Hybrid SZ3 delivers both sustainability and practicality.
Who is it best for?
This is a great car for environmentally conscious individuals and companies who take solo business trips and seek better fuel economy than they’re getting from their current vehicle.
Starting price: £13,576
Not only is the Suzuki Ignis outstanding value for money but it’s also known for its reliability, so you shouldn’t (hopefully!) have to pay for too many costly repairs.
Seat Leon
Credit: Wikimedia
Model: Estate SE 2.0 TDI 115PS
Official fuel economy by MPG: 66
A family diesel car with great boot space, the Seat Leon Estate SE 2.0 TDI 115PS has been one of the most economical options on the car market since it was released in 2020.
Who is it best for?
Families who need plenty of room will find much to love in this vehicle, but it also works well for tradespersons who want a family car with the space to take a limited amount of tools to small jobs.
Starting price: £24,515
It’s very much at the top-end of the price range for the most fuel efficient cars, which could turn off some people. However, if you do invest in this model of the popular Seat Leon series then you’ll have a car that’s achieved a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.
iCompario is the free online marketplace for business products and services, where managers and owners can research and rapidly compare fuel cards, vehicle tracking systems, insurance, telecoms and other essentials. The team follows up online queries by telephone so every site visitor finds their ideal, future-proof product at the best price possible.
Suzuki Celerio
Credit: Flickr
Model: 1.0 SZ2
Official fuel economy by MPG: 59
The Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ2 has the best fuel running costs of any petrol car we’ve reviewed, with its 59 MPG making it one of the most efficient cars you can buy in 2021.
Who is it best for?
City-based families and businesses will adore the Suzuki Celerio, as it’s perfect for short drives that take you to destinations where parking space size is limited.
Starting price: £8,000
You can do no better than the Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ2 if you want a low cost car that’s great on fuel consumption. It’s comfortably the cheapest car we’ve recommended and can be picked up for as little as £2,315 if you buy it second hand.
Toyota Prius
Credit: Wallpaper Flare
Model: Mark I 1.5 VVT-i Hybrid Electric
Official fuel economy by MPG: 55
Perhaps the best-known plug-in hybrid car on the car market, the Toyota Prius (Mark I 1.5 VVT-i Hybrid Electric model) has the fuel economy numbers to back up its celebrity.
Who is it best for?
An incredibly reliable car, the Toyota Prius is an outstanding choice for anyone that demands a vehicle that’s both cost effective and eco-friendly.
Starting price: £23,969
Yes, it’s a big investment for many people but there’s a good reason for this. It’s the definitive hybrid car, one that’s not only technologically excellent but is also an incredibly reliable family car.
How is fuel economy calculated?
Fuel economy is a really simple calculation. All you have to do is divide the number of miles travelled by the gallons of fuel it took for you to refuel the tank of your vehicle.
Here’s an example of how the fuel economy calculation works:
- Travelled: 60 miles
- Gallons it took to refuel: one
Calculation: 60 ÷ 1
- Fuel economy = 60 MPG
It’s pretty straightforward to find the fuel economy for a vehicle you’re thinking of buying. Simply search for the make and model of the vehicle and include “MPG” in your search.
Most economical petrol cars of 2021: Suzuki Celerio
Credit: Flickr
RRP: from £6,999.
Company car tax at 20%: £389
Company car tax at 40%: £777
BIK value: £1,943
The Suzuki Celerio is cheap to buy and offers reasonable money when it comes to the tax bill you’ll get if you buy it to use as a company car. We recommend this is a car that’s best for private individuals or small businesses wanting to control their fuel costs.
Most economical diesel cars of 2021: Peugeot 208
Credit: Flickr
RRP: from £26,025
Company car tax at 20%: £993
Company car tax at 40%: £1,987
BIK value: £4,966
The Peugeot 208 is a pretty pricey car, both in its purchase price and its company car tax bill. As such, it would need frequent use to make its outstanding fuel economy worth the investment. A great option for a field salesperson.
Most economical hybrid cars: Toyota Yaris
Credit: Flickr
RRP: From £19,004
Company car tax at 20%: £646
Company car tax at 40%: £1,291
BIK value: £3,228
You can’t beat the Toyota Yaris for fuel economy, competitive on both price and company car tax requirements. Combine this with its eco-friendly engine, deceptively spacious size and smooth drive, and you have a vehicle that’s suitable for a broad range of people — families, couples, single persons and professionals alike.
Most economical electric cars: Volkswagen e-Up!
Credit: PXFuel
RRP: from £20,780
Company car tax at 20%: £47
Company car tax at 40%: £94
BIK value: £236
We’ve not included the VW e-Up! 60kW Auto in our top ten list of the best cars for fuel consumption but that’s solely based on it not featuring an MPG because it has an electric motor. As far as electric car options go, you won’t find a better motor on the market. It’s reasonably priced and has an incredibly low company car tax requirement, making it ideal for both private and professional users.
Compare fuel cards
If you’re a fleet manager or transport business owner looking to buy cars with great fuel consumption, you might want to consider getting fuel cards for your vehicle.
Fuel cards are a great way to manage your diesel and petrol costs, as they give you oversight of your spending and offer the chance to get fuel discounts.
Get the best fuel card quotes with iCompario. Our comparison tool allows you to enter the unique requirements of your business when searching through the different options, helping you select the best fuel cards for your company.
iCompario is the free online marketplace for business products and services, where managers and owners can research and rapidly compare fuel cards, vehicle tracking systems, insurance, telecoms and other essentials. The team follows up online queries by telephone so every site visitor finds their ideal, future-proof product at the best price possible.
