Best of
In partnership with Renault
The most and least economical cars revealed
Our real-world tests show you how far new cars can really travel on a gallon of fuel. So, which are the most economical cars we've tested so far?
Darren Moss
Updated: 22 September 2026
When deciding what used car to buy, there are plenty of factors to consider. Currently, one of the most important to many is how efficient each model is, with many drivers looking to make each gallon of petrol or diesel go further.
However, the official WLTP fuel economy figures you’ll find in brochures and advertisements are often very difficult – sometimes impossible – to achieve in real world driving conditions.
That’s where we come in. We carry out our own real-world tests, which show what cars are capable of when being driven gently at the speed limit, but without ‘hypermiling’ techniques or pitifully slow acceleration.
However, if it's the most economical cars according to official figures you're looking for, we have you covered.
Here, we share the 10 most fuel-efficient used cars we’ve tested – and some of them are capable of averaging as much as 61.9mpg in real driving conditions. Make sure to bookmark this page, because we'll keep these results up to date as we test more cars.
At a glance – the most efficient cars we've tested
Make and modelWhat Car? ratingList priceTest MPG resultPCP deals****Leasing dealsToyota Yaris Cross4£27,44561.9mpgBest PCP dealsCars available nowHonda Jazz4£28,47557.3mpgBest PCP dealsBest leasing dealsRenault Symbioz2£27,59557.0mpgBest PCP dealsBest leasing dealsRenault Captur4£22,49556.7mpgBest PCP dealsBest leasing dealsToyota Corolla5£30,34555.5mpgBest PCP dealsBest leasing deals
The most efficient cars for you
The Toyota Yaris Cross tops our list as the most efficient car we've ever tested. Its hybrid setup is remarkably frugal, while its peppy nature makes the Yaris Cross enjoyable to drive.
You'll be surprised at how frugal the Honda Jazz is, but also at how much you can fit into it. Whether you're talking about people or luggage, this is one of the most spacious small cars around.
For something a bit bigger, the Renault Symbioz is available with sliding rear seats for extra versatility, but it's let down by a mediocre drive.
advertisement
scroll for more
Toyota Yaris Cross
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Very fuel efficient
- Smooth driving manners
- Uncluttered dashboard is easy to use
Weaknesses
- Could be more spacious in the back seats
- Not as fun to drive as the Ford Puma
- Not all safety kit is available on all trims
Year tested 2022 | Test MPG result 61.9mpg | Official MPG 62.8mpg
If fuel economy is at the very top of your list of priorities, the hybrid Toyota Yaris Cross should definitely be on your shortlist. It's the most efficient car we've ever tested, returning an impressive 103.3mpg around town, and almost 62mpg on a mixture of roads. Of course, most of that economy comes from the fact that the Yaris Cross can travel for short distances on electric power alone, but its 1.5-litre petrol engine is very efficient on its own.
Outside of low running costs, the Yaris Cross offers a decent amount of space for passengers, and four six-footers will be able to sit comfortably. The boot is a good size, too, and at 400 litres it matches that of the Skoda Kamiq. You get a handy height-adjustable floor to make loading easier fitted as standard, too. We managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases inside the Toyota's boot, which is more than we could fit into the rival Nissan Juke.
You'll pay less to put a Yaris Cross on your driveway than you would for the Juke, but the Toyota is still more expensive than the entry-level Renault Captur E-Tech a cash purchase. You get plenty of kit as standard, but we'd be tempted to go for mid-range Design because it comes with a larger 10.5in infotainment touchscree, rear parking sensors, and the ability to specify additional safety kit via the options list.
The Yaris Cross is proving to be more reliable than the closely related Lexus LBX, but you'll be covered by a standard three-year manufacturer warranty – which can be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles if you have your car serviced at a Toyota dealer – should anything go wrong.
The dashboard of the Yaris Cross is fairly basic and I find its controls easier to operate as a result. It's also a bonus that you don't need to delve into the infotainment screen to change the temperature.
Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review >>
New car deals
Best price from £25,995
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £25,995
RRP from: £27,445
Nearly new deals
From £22,852
Leasing deals
From £248
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Toyota Yaris Cross
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 36 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £247.78 Initial payment £2,973.36
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,218 total upfront (£2,973 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 36 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Honda Jazz
Best buy: 1.5 h i-MMD Elegance eCVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.4 sec
MPG/range: 62.8 mpg
C02 emissions: 102 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 304 litres
Insurance group: 21A
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Spacious interior with flexible rear seats
- Lots of standard equipment
- Efficient engine
Weaknesses
- Very pricey by small car standards
- Not the quietest cruiser
- Some rivals are more fun
Year tested 2023 | Test MPG result 57.3mpg | Official MPG 61.4mpg
Like the Toyota Yaris Cross above, the Honda Jazz combines a small petrol engine with an electric motor, allowing the car to drive using electric power over short periods. And while this is especially effective around town – the Jazz is capable of upwards of 68mpg on urban roads – it contributes to a stellar average result of 57.3mpg.
The Jazz isn't the most fun small car to drive – there's not a huge amount of grip and the body rolls through corners more than most rivals – but it is comfortable and predictable in the way it goes about things. The CVT automatic gearbox generally does a good job of managing the Jazz's power, but planting your foot to the floor does send the revs soaring, which brings with it a loud, rather coarse noise from the engine.
Where the Jazz scores huge points over rivals is in how spacious it is. Thanks to clever 'magic' rear seats which flip up cinema-style, you can store long items across the rear of the car rather than taking up space in the boot, and that's a rarity in this class. And speaking of the boot, it's big by small car standards. We managed to fit five carry-on suitcases inside it, which is about the same as the rival Seat Ibiza can manage.
The Jazz’s interior is its pièce de résistance as far as I'm concerned. There's plenty of adjustment in its driving position, plenty of soft materials on the dashboard, and it’s very spacious.
Read our full Honda Jazz review >>
New car deals
Best price from £23,999
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £23,999
RRP from: £28,475
Nearly new deals
From £23,490
Leasing deals
From £253
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Honda Jazz
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £253.17 Initial payment £3,038.04
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,283 total upfront (£3,038 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
advertisement
scroll for more
Renault Symbioz
Best buy: 1.3 TCe MHEV techno Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 11.2 sec
MPG/range: 47.9 mpg
C02 emissions: 134 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 624 litres
Insurance group: 16E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Keen list price
- Fuel-efficient hybrid option
- Sliding rear seats add versatility
Weaknesses
- Mediocre to drive
- Cheap-feeling interior
- Disappointing safety score
Year tested 2025 | Test MPG result 57.0mpg | Official MPG 60.1mpg
Hybrid versions of the Renault Symbioz combine a 1.8-litre petrol engine with two electric motors. The result isn't especially punchy – combined power stands at 158bhp, and the 0-62mph sprint time is 9.1 seconds, but it does make for a very efficient setup.
It's a shame that when you put your foot down, the hand-off from electric to petrol power is less than seamless, and you don't get the surge in acceleration you might be expecting. It can also be a bit tricky to stop the Symbioz smoothly, because the car's brakes are integrated with its regenerative braking system. And while there's less body lean through corners than what you'd get in the rival Nissan Qashqai or Mazda CX-5, we found the Symbioz's steering to be far too light and vague.
Drivers of all shapes and sizes will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel of the Symbioz, and you sit higher up than you would in a traditional family car, giving you a good view out over the road ahead. Elsewhere, the Renault's Google-based infotainment system is easy to get along with, and you can download more than 50 apps to use with it including Spotify and Google Maps.
You get plenty of safety kit thrown in with the Symbioz, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. It's a shame that the Symbioz scored four stars out of five when it was tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, where it was found to offer a low level of protection for the driver's chest in some crash situations.
Sometimes going for the cheapest trim limits you to just a few exterior paint colours. I like that entry-level Techno actually has the most paint options, including an extra Mercury Blue finish.
Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor
Read our full Renault Symbioz review >>
New car deals
Best price from £22,490
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £22,490
RRP from: £27,595
Nearly new deals
From £17,990
Leasing deals
From £239
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Renault Symbioz
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £238.76 Initial payment £2,865.12
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,110 total upfront (£2,865 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Renault Captur
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Keen starting price
- Sliding rear seats
- Quiet cruiser
Weaknesses
- Cheap-feeling interior on lower trim levels
- TCe 115 petrol is quite slow
- No adjustable lumbar support
Year tested 2024 | Test MPG result 56.7mpg | Official MPG 60.1mpg
Renault's take on the small SUV is a popular sight on UK roads, and while it's not at the top of the class when it comes to interior quality or long-distance comfort, the Captur does take the lead on fuel economy – especially if you go for this hybrid version.
Like the other hybrid cars on this list, the Captur combines a petrol engine with an electric battery and motor, allowing you to drive using electric power alone over short distances. This version of the Captur can hit 62mph from a standing start in 8.9 seconds, which is slightly slower than the Volkswagen T-Cross can manage with its 1.5-litre petrol engine.
When you put your foot down, the Captur's 1.6-litre petrol engine fires up to add its weight to the car's performance, but there can be a noticeable gap before it does so.
Taller drivers and front passengers will find that they have more room to stretch out in the Captur's key rivals, the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Skoda Kamiq, which all offer more head room. Space for rear passengers is okay by the standards of this class, but you'll need to slide the rear bench into its furthest position to allow taller passengers to get comfortable.
In non-hybrid form, the Captur has one of the biggest boots in the small SUV class, but sadly the hybrid loses around a quarter of its boot space to accommodate its battery, leaving you with a rather paltry 326 litres. Still, that was enough to take five carry-on suitcases in our tests.
Touchscreen infotainment systems are distracting to use but in my experience the Captur's is easier to navigate around than the Ford Puma's.
Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor
Read our full Renault Captur review >>
New car deals
Best price from £19,643
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £19,643
RRP from: £22,495
Nearly new deals
From £17,922
Leasing deals
From £260
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Renault Captur
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £260.43 Initial payment £3,125.16
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,370 total upfront (£3,125 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
advertisement
scroll for more
Toyota Corolla
Best buy: 1.8 VVT-h Icon CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.1 sec
MPG/range: 65.7 mpg
C02 emissions: 97 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 352 litres
Insurance group: 17E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
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
Year tested 2022 | Test MPG result 55.5mpg | Official MPG 62.8mpg
The combination of 1.8-litre petrol engine and electric motor makes the Toyota Corolla feel very peppy indeed. It can beat a 1.5-litre Volkswagen Golf up to 62mph, and while a Ford Focus in 1.0 Ecoboost form will be even quicker, that car isn't as economical as the Corolla. And that economy is easy to acheive, because the Corolla does a good job of mixing electric and petrol power for maximum efficiency.
Of course, that frugality would account for very little if the Corolla wasn't a very good family car in its own right, and it certainly is that. It's extremely comfortable, with a ride which does a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps from the road, and very little noise or vibrations making their way back into the car. While some rivals feel more dynamic on a country road, the Corolla handles predictably and assuredly.
The interior of the Corolla isn't especially flashy, but it is well built. Every version comes with a 12.3in digital driver's display behind the steering wheel, and there's a 10.5in infotainment touchscreen positioned high on the dashboard. It's not the best system to use, with graphics and display resolution which feel a little behind the times, but you do get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring as standard.
There's not much need to look past entry-level Icon trim in the Corolla, because this comes with everything you're likely to need, including automatic LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control. And as with the Yaris Cross further up this list, the Corolla's warranty could last for up to 10 years if you get your car serviced at a Toyota dealer.
I found there was plenty of space in the front of the Toyota Corolla but things are a little cramped in the rear, especially for leg room.
Read our full Toyota Corolla review >>
New car deals
Best price from £30,845
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £32,995
RRP from: £30,845
Nearly new deals
From £22,995
Leasing deals
From £288
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Toyota Corolla
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £288.20 Initial payment £3,458.40
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,703 total upfront (£3,458 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Seat Ibiza
Best buy: 1.0 TSI SE Technology Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 11 sec
MPG/range: 55.4 mpg
C02 emissions: 115 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 355 litres
Insurance group: 12E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Great to drive
- Punchy engines
- User-friendly interior
Weaknesses
- Lots of road noise
- There are punchier rivals available
- Iffy reliability record
Year tested 2026 | Test MPG result 55.1mpg | Official MPG 55.9mpg
In contrast to some of the other cars on this list, the Seat Ibiza is fun as well as frugal. And while 94bhp coming from its 1.0-litre petrol engine might not sound like much, in a car this small and light it's perfectly fine for nipping through city traffic. Indeed, we managed to cover the 0-60mph sprint in a respectable 9.8 seconds. This engine comes with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard.
Stay away from FR versions of the Ibiza if you want the best ride, because these get firmer sports suspension as standard. On lesser versions of the Ibiza, the standard setup does a good job soaking up lumps and bumps – it's at least as good in this regard as the rival Renault Clio.
What we like most about the Ibiza is the way it handles. Its steering is precise and communicative, so you always know where to place the Ibiza on the road. And because there's plenty of front-end grip and minimal body lean, the Ibiza is a joy to thread along a country road.
You sit lower down inside the Ibiza than you do in some small cars, and the driver's seat is comfortable and supportive for longer trips. And while the Ibiza's interior isn't up to standard of, say, the Mini Cooper, it nontheless uses a very pleasing mix of soft-touch materials on both surfaces. And if you go for a version of the Ibiza which comes with the larger 9.2in touchscreen, you'll get one of the best infotainment systems in the class.
I like a low driving position and that the Ibiza (unlike a lot of other small cars) caters for that very well.
Read our full Seat Ibiza review >>
New car deals
Best price from £16,450
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £16,450
RRP from: £21,610
Nearly new deals
From £16,500
Leasing deals
From £185
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Seat Ibiza
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £184.98 Initial payment £2,219.76
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£2,465 total upfront (£2,220 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
advertisement
scroll for more
Renault Clio
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Smart interior is packed with equipment
- Good ride and handling balance
- Practical boot
Weaknesses
- Tight for taller adults in the rear seats
- Slightly firm low-speed ride
- High boot loading lip
Year tested 2025 | Test MPG result 54.0mpg | Official MPG 55.9mpg
The Clio got very close to its official fuel economy result in our testing, which shows just how frugal its 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine can be. This engine might not endow the Clio with the greatest turn of speed – the 0-60mph sprint takes 11.5 seconds – but it's fine for darting around town, even if the Skoda Fabia has more mid-range pulling power.
Similarly, the Fabia is better at soaking up road imperfections, but the Clio isn't uncomfortable. Indeed, it's firmer suspension actually delivers better body control, which is what you want when weaving the car along a flowing country road. The Clio's steering is more direct and responsive than that of most small car rivals, so gives you a better sense of connection to what the front wheels are up to.
The Clio feels smarter than most of its small car rivals inside, where it features a pleasing mix of materials which look and feel the part even on cheaper trim levels. In Espirit Alpine versions, you even get Alpine-branded seats.
Taller passengers sitting in the rear will find their heads brushing the Clio's roof lining, and if they're sitting behind a similarly tall person in the front, their legs will also be wedged against the front seat. The Honda Jazz and Skoda Fabia are both better at accommodating passengers. And while the Clio appears to have a massive boot on paper, in real-world conditions it actually swallowed the same amount of suitcases as the Citroën C3 – which has a far smaller space on paper.
Initially I found the Renault Clio's brake-pedal response a little sensitive but I quickly got used to it. The brakes performed strongly, even when I was driving a bit more spiritedly.
Read our full Renault Clio review >>
New car deals
Best price from £16,995
Nearly new deals
From £16,074
Leasing deals
From £200
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Renault Clio
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £199.84 Initial payment £2,398.08
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£2,643 total upfront (£2,398 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
New Toyota Prius
Best buy: 2.0 13.6 kWh Design CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 6.8 sec
MPG/range: 176.6 mpg
C02 emissions: 36 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 284 litres
Insurance group: 31A
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Strong fuel economy
- Good to drive
- Interior controls are easy to use
Weaknesses
- Forward visibility could be better
- Battery range is less than the best rivals
- Poor rear head room
Year tested 2024 | Test MPG result 53.8mpg | Official MPG 403.5mpg
You might look at the numbers above and think that the Prius is very far adrift of its official fuel economy figure. But it's worth noting that those figures are calculated based on you doing most of your driving using electric power – the Prius can officially do 52 miles on electric power alone. In real-world conditions, where you're more likely to mix power from the 2.0-litre petrol engine and the electric motor, the 53.8mpg we acheived is more realistic.
The Prius is one of the more comfortable family hatchbacks, with a settled ride and suspension which does a good job of taking the harsh stings out of ruts and potholes. The steering offers a good sense of connection to the front wheels, but the Prius isn't what you'd call sporty to drive.
Of more interest to potential buyers is likely to be how spacious the Prius is inside, and if you're sat in the front the answer is 'quite good' – it doesn't feel quite as airy as some rivals due tro the long, sloping windscreen, but there's enough space to get comfortable. In the rear seats, the experience is more mixed, because while there's enough leg room for even taller occupants to stretch out, the head room is very tight indeed.
I know we often see the Prius being used as a taxi, but this latest one is one I’d actually enjoy being the driver in.
Read our full Toyota Prius review >>
New car deals
Best price from £33,050
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £33,050
RRP from: £37,895
Nearly new deals
From £26,845
Leasing deals
From £326
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
New Toyota Prius
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £325.87 Initial payment £3,910.44
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£4,155 total upfront (£3,910 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
advertisement
scroll for more
Mazda CX-60
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Smart, user-friendly interior
- Generous equipment
- Strong and economical diesel engines
Weaknesses
- Wallowy handling and thumpy ride
- Some rivals offer more rear leg room
- Gearbox not as smooth as rivals
Year tested 2025 | Test MPG result 52.8mpg | Official MPG 53.3mpg
Surprised to see a big diesel engine featuring on our list of the most economical cars we've tested? Well, you shouldn't be, because if you regularly travel lots of miles and want a sizeable car, diesel power can still make a lot of sense. And the 3.3-litre engine in the CX-60 is an absolute peach, offering plenty of low-down pulling power which will get you up to motorway speeds with ease. Indeed, so equipped the CX-60 can sprint up to 62mph in 8.4 seconds.
It's a bit of a shame that the CX-60 doesn't have the handling poise to go with its considerable power. The steering is quite slow to respond off-centre, and doesn't build up much weight beyond that. And the CX-60 leans a fair amount through corners, losing the composure you'd find on some family SUV rivals.
Inside, you'll find a comfortable driving position which is easy to see out from, thanks to the Mazda's slim windscreen pillars and low-set dashboard. In the back seats, you won't find much more space than in the smaller Mazda CX-5, but there's still enough room for a couple of adults to get comfortable. Just remember that rivals such as the Volvo XC60 offer even more leg room.
As for the CX-60's bot, it offers 570 litres of storage space, which is enough for your holiday suitcases. Indeed, when we tested it we managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases inside, which is the same number that the XC60 managed.
Despite a firm ride, the CX-60's suspension doesn't control body movements as well as the Volvo XC60's. I find that a shame, because Mazda is capable of building cars that are brilliant to drive.
Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our full Mazda CX-60 review >>
New car deals
Best price from £34,997
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £34,997
RRP from: £47,375
Nearly new deals
From £30,498
Leasing deals
From £496
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Mazda CX-60
Expected annual mileage 6000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £496.48 Initial payment £5,957.76
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£6,203 total upfront (£5,958 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 6000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Ford Kuga
Best buy: 2.5h Duratec ST-Line CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 0 sec
MPG/range: 52.3 mpg
C02 emissions: 123 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 645 litres
Insurance group: 19E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Spacious in the back
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Interior quality doesn’t impress
- Relatively small boot
- Busy low-speed ride on ST-Line trims
Year tested 2021 | Test MPG result 52.8mpg | Official MPG 256.8mpg
The Ford Kuga actually returned the same real-world test MPG result as the Mazda CX-60 above, but we've given the Mazda the position above the Ford here because, as with most plug-in hybrids, the Kuga's real-world result is so much furhter adrift of its WLTP-certified official economy figure.
The Kuga's 42-mile electric-only range might not sound like much, and lacks behind what the best plug-in hybrid rivals can manage, but it could also be enough to cover your commute without bringing the 2.5-litre petrol engine out to play. The PHEV Kuga is also the quickest option in the line-up, covering the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 7.3 seconds.
The Kia Sportage offers more naturally weighted steering, but the Kuga's quick setup makes it feel more eager to turn into corners. And despite being a tall car, the Kuga hides its bulk well through bends, with body control which makes it feel more composed than a Hyundai Tucson.
I found the driver's display bright and clear, but it’s a pity you have to pay extra for a head-up display, which is part of the Technology Pack.
Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor
Read our full Ford Kuga review >>
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
Find out your car's Real MPG >>
New car deals
Best price from £28,475
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £28,475
RRP from: £33,335
Nearly new deals
From £22,699
Leasing deals
From £331
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Ford Kuga
Expected annual mileage 6000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £330.97 Initial payment £3,971.64
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£4,217 total upfront (£3,972 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 6000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
And the least efficient car we've tested...
Ferrari Purosangue
Year tested 202 | Test MPG result 13mpg | Official MPG 16.3mpg
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to see a huge, V12-engined sports SUV like the Ferrari Purosangue take this positon as the least economical car we've tested, but here it is. Fortunately, running costs aside, there's plenty to like about Ferrari's first SUV – it's outrageously quick, supremely comfortable and surprisingly practical.
Read our full Ferrari Purosangue review >>
Read our review
Real MPG
Best
News and advice
Feature
BMW iX3 long-term test
News
Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway gain new full hybrid power
News
New Fiat Topolino Dolcevita adds open-top thrills to urban quadricycle
Best of
Best seven-seat SUVs 2026 tried & tested – plus the one to avoid
News
Deal of the Day: Lease a Volkswagen T-Cross from £176 per month
Best of
