Real MPG: most economical petrol cars

WLTP MPG 55.7mpg | Real MPG Average 59.9mpg | Town 51.3mpg | Motorway 53.3mpg | Rural 74.8mpg

The Suzuki Ignis's 1.2-litre petrol engine may have just 82bhp, but it rarely feels out of its depth, even if you spend most of your time on faster roads. It's also ruthlessly efficient, partly because it's a mild hybrid.

The Ignis returned an impressive 53.3mpg on the motorway in our tests, and close to 75mpg on rural roads. With an average of almost 60mpg, it's the most efficient petrol-engined car we've tested to date.

Read our full Suzuki Ignis review

NEDC MPG 65.7mpg | Real MPG Average 57.8mpg | Town 47.0mpg | Motorway 53.3mpg | Rural 73.5mpg

In a car as small and light as the Suzuki Celerio, even a 67bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine can give you a pleasant turn of speed. Indeed, while the Celerio feels most at home in town, like the more modern Suzuki Ignis, it isn't outpaced on faster A-roads or motorways.

Additionally, Suzuki as a brand has an impressive reliability record, so you shouldn't face many instances of things going wrong. The Celerio was discontinued by Suzuki in 2019; used examples cost from around £3000.

Read our full used Suzuki Celerio review

WLTP MPG 50.7mpg | Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 44.3mpg | Motorway 51.9mpg | Rural 72.2mpg

Since its launch in 2012, the Volkswagen Up has been offered with several frugal 1.0-litre petrol engines. The most efficient of the bunch is the entry-level 59bhp version. The absence of a turbocharger means it can feel a bit weedy, but having to make fewer trips to the petrol station will at least partially make up for that.

Unfortunately the Up is no longer available to buy new, although used examples are widely available.

Read our full used Volkswagen Up review

NEDC MPG 62.7mpg | Real MPG Average 55.2mpg | Town 46.6mpg | Motorway 49.9mpg | Rural 70.4mpg

Suzuki has scored a hat-trick in the economical petrol car contest with this, the Baleno. It's a small car rival to the likes of the Skoda Fabia, but one which – in this 1.0-litre form – is more economical than most.

You get lots of equipment as standard, too, plus a spacious boot. It's worth noting that the Suzuki Baleno is no longer on sale, but you can find used examples at very reasonable prices.

Read our full used Suzuki Baleno review

NEDC MPG 62.8mpg | Real MPG Average 55.2mpg | Town 45.9mpg | Motorway 50.0mpg | Rural 70.6mpg

With just 59bhp, you might think this entry-level version of the Citigo – Skoda's version of the Volkswagen Up featured above – is best avoided. In reality, it's fine for those who value fuel economy and do most of their miles in town.

However, the Citigo is at its most frugal when you venture out of the urban jungle, into the countryside. Petrol-engined versions of the Citigo, as well as the fully electric Skoda Citigo e iV, are now available only on the used market.

Read our full used Skoda Citigo review

NEDC MPG 60.1mpg | Real MPG Average 54.0mpg | Town 45.1mpg | Motorway 48.8mpg | Rural 69.4mpg

This 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol version of the Seat Ibiza pulls willingly from low revs and can whisk you up to motorway speeds surprisingly quickly, yet it also proved exceptionally frugal in our testing.

On top of this, the Ibiza is among the best small cars you can buy if driving fun is a priority. The Ibiza was named our Small Car of the Year in 2018, although the Renault Clio is now the leader of the pack – even if it can't match the Seat's economy.

Read our full Seat Ibiza review

NEDC MPG 62.8mpg | Real MPG Average 53.3mpg | Town 46.6mpg | Motorway 47.3mpg | Rural 67.3mpg

The second-generation Kia Picanto won multiple What Car? Awards over the years. However, while there's no denying that the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine is supremely economical, it needs to be worked hard to perform at its best.

What’s more, the contemporary Hyundai i10 (2014-2020) could be bought with a version of the same frugal engine, yet it outclasses the Picanto as a secondhand buy. In either car, the extra power of the 1.2-litre engine is worth the potential efficiency penalty if you often travel on motorways.

Read our full used Kia Picanto review

NEDC MPG 64.2mpg | Real MPG Average 53.1mpg | Town 42.9mpg | Motorway 48.6mpg | Rural 68.9mpg

The previous-generation Leon is the first and only family car in this top 10. Despite its extra size, it’s almost as frugal as the diminutive Mk2 Kia Picanto, and it has plenty more to offer to the discerning used car buyer than just the promise of low running costs.

For starters, it’s great fun to drive, with sporty handling and quick steering. And, although it’s the entry-level option, the 1.0 TSI petrol engine we put through this test still offers flexible performance, which complements its impressive economy.

Read our full used Seat Leon review

NEDC MPG 55.4mpg | Real MPG Average 52.8mpg | Town 44.3mpg | Motorway 47.3mpg | Rural 68.5mpg

Although it can’t hold a candle to its replacement (the current Dacia Sandero), this first-generation model still won favour with many buyers when it was new thanks to its no-frills philosophy and affordable price. And it’s even more affordable now than it was then, with prices starting below £2000.

When we put the 0.9-litre turbocharged petrol engine through our tests, it managed more than 50mpg on average – meaning the Sandero’s not just cheap to buy, but cheap to run as well.

Read our full used Dacia Sandero review

WLTP MPG 58.9mpg | Real MPG Average 52.2mpg | Town 42.6mpg | Motorway 48.0mpg | Rural 66.7mpg

Scraping in at number 10, the Aygo X is a touch more efficient than a Mazda 2 or Volkswagen Polo. The 71bhp, 1.0-litre petrol engine in the version we tested is the sole option, and is down on power compared with most rivals’ offerings.

Putting up with its leisurely performance does have its benefits, though. Toyota has a stellar reliability record, and owners who get their Aygo X serviced at a dealership can benefit from a warranty stretching up to 10 years.

Read our full Toyota Aygo X review

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