These are the most fuel-efficient cars with petrol engines

For those who drive too little for a car with a diesel engine and an EV, full hybrid or even plug-in is not yet within reach, there are fortunately also relatively economical cars with a petrol engine for sale. Of course, your own driving style plays a major role in this, but because we have to base ourselves on something for this list of petrol cars that do not fully help your financial situation, we look at the average combined WLTP consumption that the manufacturer states.

Car manufacturers annually invest billions in the development of electric cars and despite the fact that various brands will no longer introduce new cars with combustion engines in Europe by 2030, the further development of petrol engines is not standing still. Various petrol engines are enriched with mild-hybrid technology that manages to reduce the average consumption on paper. That gives the Mazda 2 a place in the list of the five most economical petrol cars of the moment, who would have thought. Please note: since several models note the same average consumption behind their names, this top 5 is not a ranking.

Mazda 2

5. Mazda 2 Skyactiv-G 75 and 90

Until recently, the Mazda 2 had Skyactiv-G petrol engines equipped with Mazda’s mild-hybrid M Hybrid system. Mazda recently implemented a model year update on those 75 hp and 90 hp machines, including increasing the compression ratio. The result: an engine that is more economical without the M Hybrid system than before. Both petrol engines score an average combined consumption of 4.8 l/100 km. Note that this only applies to the versions with six-speed manual transmission. The Skyactiv-G 90 is also available with a six-speed automatic transmission, but that version wants a sip more with 5.4 l/100 km. The Mazda 2 Skyactiv-G 75 and 90 have prices of at least €17,990 and €18,990 respectively.

Citroen C1

4. Citroen C1 VTi 72

A small petrol engine in a compact city car are of course two fantastic ingredients for relatively low consumption. Citroën’s C1, with its 72 hp and 93 Nm strong 998 cc small three-cylinder from Toyota, does not need any mild-hybrid hardware and software at all to achieve an average consumption of 4.8 l/100 km. Note the chosen version, only entry-level version Live scores this consumption on paper. The Shine, Feel and Millenium are only marginally thirstier with 4.9 l/100 km. The Citroën C1 VTi 72 Live is available from €13,740.

Hyundai i10

3. Hyundai i10 1.0i

Hyundai supplies the i10 with a 100 hp 1.0 T-GDI, but it is the turboless version of the 1.0 three-cylinder that naturally helps the little Korean to the most favorable use. The i10 with 67 hp and 96 Nm strong 998 cc large three-cylinder petrol engine helps the Hyundai to an average consumption of 4.8 l/100 km. Here too, you have to go for the version with manual transmission to achieve that consumption, the variant with robotized manual transmission is slightly thirstier. The 4.8 l/100 km also applies only to the entry-level i-Drive, the Comfort is namely 4.9 l/100 km, although such a difference is more than negligible. The Hyundai i10 1.0 i-Drive has a starting price of €13,635.

Peugeot 108

2. Peugeot 108 1.0 e-VTI 72

If the Citroën C1 is one of the 5 most economical petrol cars of the moment, then of course the same applies to its sister models. At least you would think so. The Active and Access versions of the Peugeot 108 score the same average consumption of 4.8 l/100 km as the entry-level version of the Citroën C1, but the Toyota Aygo scores on paper a consumption of 4.9 l/100 km. Negligible? Definitely. The Peugeot 108 is available as Access from €13,255. The Aygo changes hands from €13,595.

1. Suzuki Swift 1.2 Smart Hybrid

Although the cars in this list are in no particular order, we make an exception for the Suzuki Swift. Suzuki proves with the Swift with mild-hybrid 1.2 that a petrol car without a full hybrid system or plug-in hybrid powertrain also falls under an average consumption of 4.8 l/100 km. The front-wheel drive Suzuki Swift 1.2 Smart Hybrid – with a five-speed manual transmission and therefore not with a CVT automatic transmission or with four-wheel drive – is the only not ‘full’ hybrid petrol car that manages to score an average consumption of 4.7 l/100 km, a consumption that is also applies to the Comfort, Select and Style versions. The Suzuki Swift 1.2 Smart Hybrid has a starting price of €17,750 as Select.

Of course there are more remarkably economical petrol cars. For example, every model with an average consumption of 4.9 l/100 km or higher is already excluded from this list, as we have included all 4.7-4.8 l/100 km models in this overview. We have already mentioned the Aygo as an economical alternative, but the Mitsubishi Space Star 1.2 also achieves an average combined consumption of 4.9 l/100 km according to the factory. Striking: the Audi A3 Limousine 30 TFSI also manages to achieve that consumption on paper. Instead of the Hyundai, you could also consider the Kia Picanto 1.0 DPi, which falls with an average consumption of 4.9 l/100 km, which is also just outside the 4.8 l/100 km category. Cars that gulp 5.0 l/100 km, or 1:20, include the Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI, Kia Rio 1.0 T-GDI MHEV, Fiat 500 Hybrid and even the Mazda 3 Sedan with 186 hp SkyActiv-X- machine. In the 5.1 and 5.2 l/100 km category we come across cars such as the Renault Twingo SCe 65, Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI, Hyundai i20 1.0 T-GDI, Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI, Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Smart Hybrid, Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI, Renault Clio TCe 90 and Opel Astra 1.2 Turbo.