Real MPG: most economical cars for town driving

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

The Toyota Yaris Cross is the only car we’ve tested to manage triple-digits in the urban portion of our tests, and this isn’t the only place it excels – it’s also the most economical car we’ve tested overall. At the heart of that efficiency is its hybrid system, combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor that can do a lot of the heavy lifting while you’re driving around town.

Not only will it minimise your fuel bills, but it also offers a comfortable interior and a lofty driving position that many SUV fans will appreciate. On top of that, its hybrid system allows it to run purely on electric power at low speeds, and there’s also a four-wheel-drive option. 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

WLTP MPG 53.3mpg | Real MPG Average 49.0mpg | Town 91.9mpg | Motorway 37.9mpg | Rural 54.0mpg

Looking at its big, heavy SUV stature, you wouldn’t expect the Toyota RAV4 to be as frugal as it is, but, much like the Yaris Cross, it has an efficient hybrid system that does a lot of work to keep your running costs low. With a 2.5-litre engine combined with a powerful electric motor, the RAV4 has a total output of 302bhp, which makes it capable on faster roads. It can run purely on electric power at low speeds, so it feels right at home in urban areas, too.

On top of the RAV4’s low running costs, Toyota has a stellar reliability record, so hopefully you won’t be spending too much on repairs, either. However, the RAV4 isn’t quite as much fun to drive as the combustion-only Mazda CX-5, nor does it offer the seven seat layout of the Skoda Kodiaq.

Read our full Toyota RAV4 review

WLTP MPG 57.7mpg | Real MPG Average 53.3mpg | Town 90.6mpg | Motorway 40.8mpg | Rural 60.8mpg

Toyota scores an efficiency hat-trick with the Corolla, another model that benefits from the brand’s expertise in hybrid technology. It’s described by its maker as a “self-charging hybrid”, which whilst slightly misleading, refers to the ability for the car to top up its battery without the need to plug it in anywhere. Like the other Toyota models previously mentioned, it can power the car at low speeds without the help of the petrol engine.

We’re huge fans of the Corolla, thanks to its comfortable ride and fantastic standard kit, which made it our 2024 Family Car of the Year. But if you’re looking for a car with lots of rear passenger space, you’re better off with the likes of the Ford Focus or Seat Leon, which are much roomier in the back.

Read our full Toyota Corolla review

WLTP MPG 64.2mpg | Real MPG Average 50.3mpg | Town 86.6mpg | Motorway 38.4mpg | Rural 58.4mpg

The Swace may carry a Suzuki badge, but don’t let names fool you – because as appearances suggest, it’s actually a Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. The reason behind its exceedingly low running costs is the exact same 1.8-litre hybrid system that you get in entry-level versions of its Toyota twin, which is particularly efficient around town.

So, not only is it frugal to run, it’s also cheaper to buy than the entry-level Corolla Touring Sports, while still offering a comfortable ride and plenty of standard kit. There are fewer trims and engines to choose from, though, and the infotainment system is nothing to write home about.

Read our full Suzuki Swace review

WLTP MPG 56.5mpg | Real MPG Average 49.5mpg | Town 84.6mpg | Motorway 38.6mpg | Rural 56.4mpg

The Honda Civic is in good company with all the other hybrids on this list, but there is something slightly different about the way its 2.0-litre engine and electric motors work together. The Civic’s e:HEV setup means that the petrol engine only powers the front wheels at higher motorway speeds, so around town, it instead generates electricity to feed to a pair of electric motors.

Alongside efficiency, the Civic also offers heaps of standard kit and an enjoyable drive, although it’s not quite as fun as a Ford Focus or Seat Leon. If you’re a fan of the sports car feel, then you’ll like the low driving position, and visibility isn’t sacrificed either, thanks to its slim windscreen pillars and low dashboard.

Read our full Honda Civic review

WLTP MPG 68.8mpg | Real MPG Average 59.9mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 46.7mpg | Rural 74.1mpg

The latest version of the Yaris returned an average real-world score of 59.9mpg, making it the second most efficient car to ever go through our Real MPG tests. While it’s not as efficient around town as some other models, a figure of 80.0mpg on urban roads is nothing to be sniffed at, and it’ll still save you a decent amount in running costs.

However, where the Yaris excels in frugality, it scrimps on interior space and quality. There isn’t much room for rear passengers to stretch out, and the poorly-hidden scratchy plastics make it feel a lot less upmarket than the likes of the Peugeot 208 and VW Polo. Despite this, it comes with plenty of standard equipment and benefits from Toyota’s fantastic reliability record.

Read our full Toyota Yaris review

NEDC MPG 78.5mpg | Real MPG Average 49.2mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 37.7mpg | Rural 57.5mpg

What’s better than one efficient Yaris? Two, of course. This previous generation model may be older than the other version on this list, but it’s still thoroughly economical and very cheap to run, returning the same impressive score of 80.0mpg in the urban portion of our tests as the latest model.

It feels right at home in town, too, with light steering that doesn’t feel overly comfortable on the open road, but is fine for pootling around narrower streets. What’s more, it offers plenty of interior space, and you won’t have to spend too much to put one on your driveway, with used prices starting from just £3000.

Read our full used Toyota Yaris review

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

Though it may be small in size, the Honda Jazz is deceptively spacious inside. And, not only is it good to drive and well equipped, but it’s also wonderfully efficient, returning a respectable 68.8mpg in the town portion of our tests. Like the other cars in our top 10, it benefits from a hybrid system, meaning its electric motor does a lot of the legwork on urban roads, but its 1.5-litre petrol engine still has a lot of pep at higher speeds.

The Jazz is comfortable and its light steering is ideal for manoeuvring around city streets, but it can feel a little out of its depth at higher speeds, and it isn’t all that fun to drive – the rival Seat Ibiza is miles ahead in that regard. On the plus side, it’s really spacious for a small car and its lofty driving position gives you that SUV feel, although it does sit at a higher price point than other small car rivals.

Read our full Honda Jazz review

WLTP MPG 49.6mpg | Real MPG Average 49.4mpg | Town 68.1mpg | Motorway 39.8mpg | Rural 57.0mpg

We couldn’t mention the Suzuki Swace without also discussing its sister car, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. This version features a larger 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor, with low-speed urban driving benefitting particularly, much like the other cars on this list, from its hybrid system.

With enough legroom to beat even the huge Skoda Octavia Estate, the Corolla Touring Sports stands out from other estate cars, offering a spacious, upmarket interior and an exceedingly comfortable driving experience. By plumping for the 2.0-litre engine over the entry-level 1.8-litre option, you do sacrifice a bit of boot space, but there’s still 581 litres on offer, which is plenty for some holiday luggage or a couple of pushchairs.

Read our full Toyota Corolla Touring Sports review

WLTP MPG 52.3mpg | Real MPG Average 47.4mpg | Town 63.7mpg | Motorway 39.7mpg | Rural 52.0mpg

If you’re looking for a small SUV that has decent performance and is cheap to run, then this previous-generation Hyundai Kona is a fine choice – arriving with a thoroughly respectable score of 63.7mpg in the town portion of our tests.

While acceleration isn’t the fastest – it completes 0-62mph in 11.2sec – and the rear passenger space leaves a lot to be desired, it offers a generous amount of kit as standard, and it has a decent infotainment system, although some rivals, like the Seat Arona, are much more impressive.

Read our full used Hyundai Kona review