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Real MPG: the cars that beat official fuel economy figures
Official fuel economy figures are closer to reality than ever according to What Car?'s unique Real MPG testing, but some models do even better. Here are the 10 best, plus three that fell way short
Alasdair Rodden
Updated: 23 March 2024
For many years, the official fuel economy figures cited by car manufacturers were often way in excess of what drivers would experience in the real world. A 40mpg car could easily be capable of just 30mpg. Drivers would be left frustrated, and hit in the wallet with greater-than-expected fuel bills.
That's where What Car?'s Real MPG steps in. Our fully-independent, in-depth economy tests reveal the how much fuel your car will really use across a range of roads.
While many cars' real-world economy is still less than the official figures recorded on the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), there are some which actually beat them. Rather unexpectedly, the car that beat the official figures by the most was a high-performance SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS, and delivered a near-43% improvement.
It’s not alone, though, so here we name the 10 models which beat their official fuel economy figures by the biggest proportion, as well as the three which are furthest from living up to their WLTP claims.
How we test for a car's Real MPG
To ensure they are repeatable and comparable, the What Car? Real MPG tests are undertaken on a rolling road set in laboratory conditions. This ensures that variables, such as traffic or inclement weather, don't bias our results. The route the car is 'driven' on is a real-world one, taking in a variety of speeds.
Prior to every Real MPG test, the car's tyre pressures are checked and weight recorded. If the car has climate control, it is set to 21C. If not, we set the heater to the midpoint, with the fan speed on its lowest moving setting. All electrical equipment, from headlights to heated seats or the radio, are switched off.
The only additional piece of kit attached to the car is an exhaust connector, which channels emissions and allows them to be recorded every second. The Real MPG scores we then report are based on an average of those results.
Read more: How we test a car's Real MPG
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New Skoda Kodiaq vRS
Best buy: 1.5 TSI e-TEC MHEV SE DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr (7 Seat)
0-62 mph: 9.9 sec
MPG/range: 46.2 mpg
C02 emissions: 139 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 340 litres
Insurance group: 18E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Generally plush, well-laid-out interior
- Seven seats as standard
Weaknesses
- Pricier than some rivals
- Not that quick or exciting for a sports SUV
- Only one engine option
Official MPG 33.1mpg | Real MPG average 47.3mpg | Town 26.4mpg | Motorway 55.0mpg | Rural 63.2mpg | Shortfall -42.9%
Despite being the performance variant of Skoda's spacious seven-seater, the Kodiaq vRS returned almost 50mpg in our testing, proving that – depending where you drive it – it's not nearly as thirsty as the official figure suggests. However, even with that in mind, it's hard to recommend the vRS. It's considerably more expensive than the regular Skoda Kodiaq, and if driving fun is high on your list of priorities you'd be better off doing without the third row of seats and buying a Cupra Ateca.
Read our full Skoda Kodiaq vRS review
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New Skoda Kodiaq vRS
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £304.63 Initial payment £3,655.56
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.
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£3,901 total upfront (£3,656 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Citroën C3 Origin
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Decently equipped
- Stylish interior
- Efficient engines
Weaknesses
- Poor to drive
- AEB is not standard on lower trims
- Cramped rear seats
Official MPG 42.7mpg | Real MPG average 50.9mpg | Town 45.0mpg | Motorway 44.9mpg | Rural 65.3mpg | Shortfall -19.2%
The Citroën C3 is one of the cheapest cars on sale today, so it's reassuring to know that owners won't find their fuel bills getting much higher than they'd bargained for. Unfortunately, like the Kodiaq, the C3 is outclassed by its rivals in most other areas. It's disappointing to drive – especially when fitted with this entry-level engine, which you need to work hard just to be able to keep up with traffic – and even the cheaper Dacia Sandero is a big step up in terms of ride comfort.
Read our full Citroën C3 review
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Best price from £16,799
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RRP from: £19,870
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From £222
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Citroën C3 Origin
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £222.39 Initial payment £2,668.68
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
£2,914 total upfront (£2,669 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Used Ford Ranger 2011 - present
Strengths
- Accurate steering
- Good interior
- Plenty of off road ability
Weaknesses
- Fuel economy
- Noisy engine
- Poor autonomous safety tech
Official MPG 30.7mpg | Real MPG average 36.5mpg | Town 25.4mpg | Motorway 35.6mpg | Rural 48.7mpg | Shortfall -18.9%
These Real MPG figures were achieved in the range-topping 210bhp 2.0 Ecoblue 213 version of the previous-generation Ford Ranger, proving that big, heavy pick-up trucks can benefit from powerful engines that can be driven low in the rev range. Furthermore, the Ranger benefits from a 10-speed automatic gearbox, which can seamlessly slot into the most efficient cog at any time. It's not the most refined diesel engine, though (if you're used to driving a relatively hushed SUV you'll notice the difference).
Read our full Ford Ranger (2011-2023) review
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Ford Ranger
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Big cargo bay with a high payload capacity
- Space for four six-footers in Double Cab versions
- Good to drive for a pick-up
Weaknesses
- Not the cheapest pick-up
- Warranty could be better
Official MPG 20.5mpg | Real MPG average 24.0mpg | Town 16.0mpg | Motorway 24.1mpg | Rural 32.2mpg | Shortfall -17.1%
No matter how you look at it, the Ford Ranger Raptor is not a sensible vehicle. Its 288bhp six-cylinder petrol engine is about the thirstiest you'll find in a modern pick-up truck, its flared wheel arches and bold 'Raptor' decals are certain to get you noticed wherever you go and its performance-tuned suspension means you can carry so little weight in the back that it doesn't actually qualify for the commercial vehicle status applied to most pick-ups. However, if you think of it as a jacked-up, go-anywhere performance car, it starts to make a bit more sense.
Read our full Ford Ranger review
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Best price from £38,744
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RRP from: £38,744
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From £38,388
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New Isuzu D-Max
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Simple interior layout
- Good payload ratings
- Safety tech available across the range
Weaknesses
- Slower than most rivals
- Rivals have more comfortable rides
- Not as plush inside as some rivals
Official MPG 30.7mpg | Real MPG average 35.2mpg | Town 28.2mpg | Motorway 33.8mpg | Rural 42.8mpg | Shortfall -14.7%
It's just as well the D-Max's 1.9-litre diesel engine is so efficient in the real world, because it's the only one that this rough-and-tumble pick-up truck is sold with. It's economy owes much to its ability to pull the D-Max along at low revs. Indeed, at higher revs it quickly runs out of puff. In our testing, the engine was linked to a decent six-speed automatic gearbox, its only fault being a reluctance to kick down, but a manual model is also available.
Read our full Isuzu D-Max review
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Nearly new deals
From £47,994
Used Honda CR-V 2018-2023
Strengths
- Very well equipped
- Huge amount of space inside
- Hybrid option is economical
Weaknesses
- No diesel option
- Bland interior
- Awkward infotainment system
Official MPG 42.2mpg | Real MPG average 47.4mpg | Town 47.6mpg | Motorway 38.9mpg | Rural 65.8mpg | Shortfall -12.3%
The CR-V is the first hybrid model to appear on this list although, with an average test figure of 47.6mpg, it’s far from being the most economical hybrid car we’ve ever tested. As a used large SUV buy, the CR-V can make a lot of sense; it’s very spacious inside, and comes very well equipped as standard. However, many rivals are better to drive, and this hybrid version can only tow up to 750kg, which is sub-par for the class.
Read our full Honda CR-V (2018-2023) review
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Volkswagen Amarok
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Big cargo bay with a high payload capacity
- Good to drive for a pickup
- Space for four six-footers inside
Weaknesses
- More expensive than rivals
- Ranger Raptor is more comfortable and fun
- Fiddly air-con controls
Official MPG 32.8mpg | Real MPG average 36.7mpg | Town 25.4mpg | Motorway 35.7mpg | Rural 49.4mpg | Shortfall -11.9%
It may be closely related to the award-winning Ford Ranger, but the Volkswagen Amarok is no low-effort rebadging effort. In fact, you might actually struggle to see the shared DNA at a glance – only a handful of exterior parts are common to both. To further distinguish the two models, the Amarok has its own infotainment system. Unfortunately, Volkswagen's decision to remove the physical climate controls you'd find in a Ranger means that the Amarok's system is harder to adjust on the move.
Read our full Volkswagen Amarok review
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Nearly new deals
From £13,199
Used Volkswagen Up 2012-2023
Strengths
- Comfortable ride and fun to drive
- Economical three-cylinder engine
- Upmarket interior
Weaknesses
- Some rivals are better value
- Smaller engines are sluggish
- Optional automatic gearbox is slow and jerky
Official MPG 50.7mpg | Real MPG average 56.0mpg | Town 44.3mpg | Motorway 51.9mpg | Rural 72.2mpg | Shortfall -10.5%
Downsized 1.0-litre engines have a reputation for returning great official fuel economy but disappointing real-world figures. The little Up turns that argument on its head though, and proves that this is the right-sized car for a small engine. This result was achieved with the entry-level 59bhp unit, which is reasonably common on the used market. This engine was replaced with a 64bhp variant, which trades some efficiency for a touch more power; both are very recommendable options.
View our full Volkswagen Up (2012-2023) review
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Mazda MX-5
Best buy: 1.5 SKYACTIV-G Prime-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr
0-62 mph: 8.3 sec
MPG/range: 45.6 mpg
C02 emissions: 140 g/km
Seats: 2
Boot: 130 litres
Insurance group: 27E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Good ride and handling balance
- Fabulous manual gearbox
- Low buying and running costs
Weaknesses
- Driving position not ideal for tall drivers
- Limited storage
- Rivals offer quicker acceleration
Official MPG 40.9mpg | Real MPG average 45.1mpg | Town 33.2mpg | Motorway 44.4mpg | Rural 56.5mpg | Shortfall -10.3%
We've tested the more powerful engine option available in the MX-5 here, the 181bhp 2.0-litre unit, despite the more affordable entry-level 130bhp 1.5-litre being our pick of the range for most buyers. The revelation is that the 2.0-litre engine can deliver the best of both worlds – incredible economy when you are out cruising thanks to its reserves of power, as well as a fair whack of oomph for some extra fun if you want to work it hard and push the revs up (and prepare to watch your fuel economy plummet).
Read our full Mazda MX-5 review
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RRP from: £28,605
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From £22,998
Dacia Duster
Best buy: 1.2 TCe MHEV Expression Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.4 sec
MPG/range: 52.3 mpg
C02 emissions: 123 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 517 litres
Insurance group: 24A
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Cheap to buy and run
- Spacious boot
- 4x4 version is very capable off road
Weaknesses
- Some rivals are better to drive
- Lots of hard plastics inside
- Entry-level model is sparsely equipped
Official MPG 39.8mpg | Real MPG average 43.8mpg | Town 34.0mpg | Motorway 40.8mpg | Rural 56.7mpg | Shortfall -10.1%
Few small SUVs come as cheap as the Dacia Duster, but it's still a spacious and practical choice, and is at its best with the turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine we tested here. As well as overachieving in terms of fuel economy, this engine is punchy enough to propel the Duster with ease. However, if you're looking to minimise running costs, the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel engine uses two fuel tanks, one for petrol and the other for LPG, meaning you can take advantage of LPG's lower price without worrying about being unable to find a suitable filling station.
Read our full Dacia Duster review
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New car deals
Best price from £21,472
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: £21,472
RRP from: £21,845
Nearly new deals
From £18,998
Leasing deals
From £261
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Dacia Duster
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £260.62 Initial payment £3,127.44
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
£3,372 total upfront (£3,127 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Volkswagen Caddy (2003-2020) 2.0 TDI
Official MPG: 55.4mpg | Real MPG: 36.8mpg | Shortfall: 33.6%
Read our review
BMW 4 Series 420d
Official MPG: 57.6mpg | Real MPG: 42.4mpg | Shortfall: 26.4%
Read our review
Ford Puma ST 1.5 Ecoboost
Official MPG: 47.9mpg | Real MPG: 35.4mpg | Shortfall: 26.1%
Read our review
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