The UK’s 15 Most Economical and Fuel Efficient Cars with the Best MPG in 2024

Finding the best MPG cars is very necessary for all of us because fuel prices are increasing day by day. If you are a driver who usually takes long drives or uses a car for a daily commute, choosing a car with great fuel economy or mileage is necessary. As you all know there are options like Petrol, Diesel, and hybrid cars available in the market but choosing the best one that meets your needs is a difficult task in 2024. As a Fuel Efficiency Analyst, I consulted with many car lovers and drivers in the last 5 years. Let us understand how you can choose the 10 best MPG cars in the UK in the step-by-step guide below.

How is Fuel Economy Measured?

Fuel economy is measured by MPG which stands for Mileage Per Gallon. Now, this MPG indicates the distance that you are traveling by your car on a gallon of fuel. So, clearly, you can understand that if you want a fuel-efficient car, the MPG of that car should be high. Calculating accurate MPG is not very difficult if you use our most used MPG Calculator. Using a calculator while driving or planning for a trip can save money. Also at the time of buying, you can make an appropriate decision. Graph showing comparative fuel efficiency between hybrid, petrol, and diesel vehicles in 2024.

All the vehicles I have listed below comply with the WLTP test program. The WLTP method is the latest introduced in 2019 after the NEDC system which measures accurate fuel efficiency in the UK.

What Makes a Car Economical?

• Size and Weight: If you have chosen a car that is smaller and lighter, it will provide better fuel economy than the larger and heavier car.
• Engine Type: Fuel Economy also depends on the car’s engine type. Cars with smaller turbocharged engines are more economical than cars with larger engines. Also, modern hybrid engines provide more fuel efficiency than the previous engines. As of 2024, we are gradually shifting towards electric vehicles or EVs because the traditional diesel-engine cars can’t compete as far as MPG is concerned.
• Emissions: As per reported data, cars that emit more CO2 from the engine are less likely to give you mileage. Also, they are not environmentally friendly. So, you also check this factor at the time of choosing the best MPG cars. Diesel cars are considered fuel-efficient. It is popular for its low-emission quality as well. However, the popularity of diesel cars has lately dropped as many studies show that diesel cars are responsible for nitrogen oxide emissions. modern diesel engines are cleaner and ideal for long-distance drivers, offering over 50 mpg on highways.

Top 5 Most Economical Diesel Cars

1. Peugeot 208 1.5 Blue HDi (100) Allure Premium manual – Achieves 72.2 mpg, a compact and fuel-efficient choice.  
2. Citroen C4 1.5 Blue HDi (110) Sense– Offers 69.1 mpg with stylish design and comfort.  
3. Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI (114) SE Technology manual – Delivers 67.7 mpg, great for families.  
4. Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI (114) Life manual – Reliable with 67.3 mpg.  
5. Peugeot 308 1.5 HDi (110) Active Premium– Combines economy and performance at 65.4 mpg.  

Additional information: All the diesel cars that I have listed above comply with the latest Euro 6 emission standards and they are also ultra-emission zone compliant.

Top 5 Most Economical Petrol & Mild-Hybrid Cars

1. Mazda 2 SE-L Mild Hybrid – Compact and efficient with 60.1 mpg.  
2. Suzuki Swift 1.2 Dualjet SZ-L manual – Fun to drive with 59.7 mpg.  
3. Kia Picanto 1.0 MPi (67) manual– Small yet economical, giving 58.9 mpg.  
4. Volkswagen Up! 1.0 TSI (65) – Stylish urban car with 55.4 mpg.  
5. Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 125 mHEV– Versatile, offering 54.3 mpg.

Top 5 Most Economical Plug-In Hybrid Cars

1. Mercedes C-Class C 300 e – Unmatched efficiency at 470.8 mpg.  
2. Volvo S60 Plus Recharge T8 PHEV AWD – Premium hybrid with 403 mpg.  
3. Mercedes S-Class S 580 e– Luxury and efficiency at 353.1 mpg.  
4. Volkswagen Golf Style 1.4 TSI eHybrid – Compact hybrid achieving 313.9 mpg.  
5. Lexus NX 450h+ – Reliable SUV delivering 313.8 mpg.

What Needs to Be Done to Reduce Fuel Consumption?

If you want to reduce your overall fuel consumption, regardless of the car you drive. You need to follow the easy steps mentioned below:

• Drive steadily
• Service regularly
• Use Converter tools
• Plan your trips

Final Words

As we discussed earlier in this article, choosing the best 5 MPG cars in the UK is a challenging task because there are different categories available. The prices of these cars are not the same. Hybrid cars give the most fuel efficiency but the price is on the higher side but can give you long-term savings. So I have picked the best 5 cars from each category now you can pick according to your budget and style taste. You are not only saving your pocket as well as you are saving our environment.