In association with Mini's all-electric range
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...
A good family car has to be a real workhorse, with a hefty capacity for both people and luggage, as well as being able to take on all sorts of journeys. And, for a lot of families, it’s important that they don’t have to worry about spending loads on filling up with fuel.
That’s where our Real MPG tests come in. You see, the official WLTP or NEDC fuel economy figures you see in sales brochures aren’t always accurate, so we conduct our own tests to see what your car can truly achieve in real-world conditions.
How we test for a car’s Real MPG
Our Real MPG tests are conducted under laboratory conditions using a rolling road, where each car undertakes a real-world-inspired route that combines urban, motorway and rural driving.
Each car is checked to ensure that it meets all the manufacturer’s recommendations, including having all its tyres correctly inflated.
Climate control is set to 21 degrees, or if the car has manual air conditioning, the temperature dial is set to the midway point and the fan speed to its lowest setting. All other electrical equipment is switched off.
We calculate the Real MPG results using the average data from an exhaust connection, which measures the car’s emissions at every second.
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
There’s a lot to like about the Skoda Octavia – it’s spacious, comfortable and extremely practical, and it’s also the most economical family car we’ve ever tested. Given its size, it really shouldn’t be as frugal as it is, but the Octavia does not fail to impress.
This Octavia is powered by a 2.0-litre, 114bhp diesel engine, which goes to show that there is still a place for diesel power among many car buyers, especially for those who cover long distances on a regular basis. This particular version has since been replaced by an updated Skoda Octavia, but the engine range hasn’t changed too much, and there are plenty of used versions on the market.
Read our full used Skoda Octavia review
Our pick: 1.2 Turbo 130 GS 5dr Auto
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
The Vauxhall Astra has always been hugely popular, and while it was never the most enjoyable car to drive, it still has a lot to offer. It’s not just extremely fuel-efficient, but its heavy depreciation means you could save a packet on a used version.
This entry-level version is powered by a 1.6-litre, 109bhp diesel engine, and it returned an impressive average of 56.3mpg in our tests. It performed better than any other family car in the rural portion, so if you find yourself on twisty country roads often, the Astra might be the car for you. It’s also decently spacious and comes with plenty of standard kit – everything a good family car should offer.
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
This previous-generation Seat Leon is one of our favourite used family cars, because not only is it cheap to buy and run, it’s also a lot of fun to drive. This version is powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine, which managed a remarkable average of 56.0mpg in Ecomotive trim, thanks to sleeker bodywork and a revised gearbox.
It’s not just the diesel engines that are great, either. The 1.0-litre petrol version of the Leon recorded an average figure of 51.8mpg, and is the most economical petrol-powered family car that has ever gone through our tests. All versions of the Leon come with plenty of kit as standard, and is generally cheaper to buy than a lot of other alternatives, including the VW Golf.
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
It’s no secret that we love the Toyota Corolla – it’s so good that we named it our 2024 Family Car of the Year, and among the many things that make it great is its excellent real-world fuel economy. It’s particularly efficient around town, where it returned a huge 90.6mpg – the most of any car on this list.
On top of being super cheap to run, the Corolla is smooth to drive and well-equipped, so you should have no issues transporting your family in comfort. If we’re being picky, it doesn’t handle with quite as much sophistication at higher speeds as, for example, the Ford Focus.
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
Although it was dropped from the current engine lineup in 2023, this diesel-powered Focus makes for a great used buy if efficiency is high on your list of priorities. It’s one of our favourite family cars, mostly because it’s just so fun to drive.
When it comes to handling, the Focus outdoes its class rivals by a country mile, so if you’re a keen driver, you can’t go wrong with one. On top of that, you’ll be able to save a decent amount on fuel, because it returned an impressively frugal average of 52.4mpg in our tests. It’s particularly efficient on rural roads and motorways, so if you do a lot of driving on the open road, the Focus is worth considering.
Read our full used Ford Focus review
Our pick: 1.2 Turbo 130 GS 5dr Auto
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
Much like with the previous Focus, this particular diesel engine is no longer available with the current Vauxhall Astra, so you’ll have to turn to the used car market. The 1.5-litre engine pumps out 129bhp, and pulls decently from low revs so you won’t have too much trouble getting up to speed.
Practicality is a strong suit – we managed to fit five carry-on suitcases in the 422-litre boot, beating the Toyota Corolla and the VW Golf, and equalling the Ford Focus. However, if you’re struggling to choose between the Focus and the Astra, we’d recommend the former, since it’s slightly more efficient at higher speeds.
Read our full used Vauxhall Astra review
Our pick: 1.6 Plug-in 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
Unlike the previous Focus and Astra, you can actually still buy a new Peugeot 308 with a diesel engine, and the one featured here is the same engine that used to be available in the Astra. The 308 doesn’t quite beat the Vauxhall on efficiency though, and it’s not nearly as fun to drive as the Ford.
Despite that, the 308 is still a perfectly practical choice for a family car, thanks to its large boot and the fact that it offers a decent amount of kit as standard. It’s a shame that rear passengers will feel squeezed into the cramped seats, and the infotainment system is nothing to write home about.
Read our full Peugeot 308 review
Our pick: 2.0 TSI 300 GTI Clubsport 5dr DSG
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
The VW Golf is a fairly large car, so you wouldn’t expect it to be particularly efficient – but with an average score of 49.7mpg in our tests, it has definitely earned its spot on our list among the most economical family cars.
We love the Golf for its smooth, enjoyable drive and upmarket interior, and indeed it’s one of the best family cars on the market. This all comes at a pretty hefty price, though, and you’ll find that there’s an abundance of cheaper options available. When you factor in the Golf’s so-so reliability record, you realise that money you save on fuel could eventually get spent on repairs instead.
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
At the heart of the Honda Civic’s excellent efficiency is its hybrid system, which combines its 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, meaning the Civic can run on electricity alone if you’re gentle with the accelerator. This will save you a packet in fuel costs.
While it doesn’t quite match the rival Toyota Corolla for efficiency, the Civic delivers punchier performance, as well as having a plush interior that sits on the more upmarket end of its class, with plenty of soft-touch materials and physical buttons that feel adequately expensive.
Read our full Honda Civic review
Our pick: 1.0 TSI 116 SE Edition 5dr
Strengths
- Comfortable ride and tidy handling
- Spacious rear seats and a big boot
- Cheap to buy and run
Weaknesses
- No hybrid or fully electric 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
The Skoda Scala may be the final car on our list, but it offers one very attractive feature: it significantly undercuts many of the other cars on this list on price. This includes the Honda Civic, which despite benefitting from hybrid power, was beaten by the Scala on the rural and motorway portions of our tests.
Few rivals offer a more comfortable ride than the Scala, and it certainly doesn’t scrimp on space. This particular version was taken off sale in 2020, so you’ll have to turn to the used market if one takes your fancy, but luckily they’re not too hard to find.
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
