Economical New Cars That Achieve Over Fifty Miles Per Gallon in the UK

Using the words of Bob Dylan, “Times, theychange indicators, electric power steering and
are a changing” and this is certainly true whenlightweight body panels to achieve a quite
we look at the habits of the new car buyer.remarkable 62.8 miles per gallon on the combined
Successive governments have failed to curb ourcycle. With BMW expecting sales of 700,000 cars
excessive fuel demands, indeed, for many yearsa year in Europe that have EfficientDynamics
cars just seemed to get bigger and bigger, withincorporated, the fuel savings are estimated to be
fuel consumption figures dropping, sometimesin the region of 33 million gallons, quite a
barely hitting double figures. Then came thesubstantial saving by anyone’s book
troubles in the oil producing regions of the world,Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
swiftly followed by the credit crunch and all of aWhen it comes to economical new cars the Ford
sudden attitudes have changed. Market forcesFiesta ECOnetic has to be up there with the best
have influenced the new car buyer and as aof them. Powered by a specially tuned 1.6 litre
result, the car manufacturers have moved swiftlydiesel engine the Fiesta ECOnetic is the most
to fill the chasm that is opening in theeconomical Ford and possibly the most economical
marketplace, the need for comfortable, but fuelcar around at the moment. Longer gear
efficient new cars. Listed below are tenratio’s, a gear change indicator, aerodynamic
economical new cars, not in any particular order,wheel trims, low rolling resistance tyres, lowered
or indeed, not even market leaders, what they dosuspension and the fact that it weighs about 40
have in common though is their ability to travelkgs less than the outgoing Fiesta mean that the
over fifty miles per gallon on the combined cycle.ECOnetic will let you drive 76.3 miles on the
They may not be the answer to all our problems,combined cycle for every gallon of diesel you put
buy they are certainly a step in the right direction.in. Ford may be struggling in the US, but with
MINI Cooper 1.6 Dfigures like these the Fiesta ECOnetic it sure to
The 1.6 diesel MINI Cooper has had theprove a big hit in Europe.
EfficientDynamics treatment by BMW, low rollingVolkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI DPF BlueMotion S 105
resistance tyres, electric power steering, an5dr
intelligent alternator control / brake energyUnfortunately not everybody can utilise a small
regeneration system, an automatic stop-startcity car or hatchback, after all some people do
function and a high precision Direct Injectionhave families and this obviously restricts their
system are amongst the advances that havechoice when it comes to buying a new car. For
been applied to the new diesel Cooper and as athose in that position, Volkswagen has come to
result it achieves a staggering 72.4 miles per gallonthe rescue in the form of the Touran Bluemotion.
on the combined cycle.The Extremely popular MPV sports a new front
Volkswagen Polo Bluemotiongrille and air intake, optimised aerodynamics, lower
Powered by a 1.4 litre, three cylinder, diesel enginesuspension and higher gearing along with low rolling
that is fitted with a with a variable-geometryresistance tyres, combined, these improvements
turbocharger that gives maximum assistance atmean that the Touran Bluemotion will return 52.3
low speeds, the Polo Bluemotion is one of themiles per gallon on the combined cycle. Proving
leaders in its class. Volkswagen have used a fewyou don’t necessarily have to downsize to do
tricks to get the Polo Bluemotion to perform asyour little bit.
frugally as it does, the obligatoryNew Toyota Prius 1.5 VVT-i
low-rolling-resistance tyres, lightweight alloy wheelsWhen launched, the Toyota Prius was seen by
and improved aerodynamics all contribute to themany as just a gimmick, as a result both Lexus
Bluemotion achieving 74.3 miles per gallon on theand its parent company, Toyota, have stolen a bit
combined cycle. Exhaust gas recirculation and aof a march over their competitors. Exemption
particulate filter give the Polo another advantagefrom the London congestion charge has certainly
over most cars in the UK market, Co2 emissionshelped to raise the profile of the Prius and as a
of only 99g/km, resulting in zero road tax. Lowresult it has become a common sight on the
cost motoring at its best.roads throughout the UK. Powered by a 1.5 litre
Audi A3 1.9 TDIepetrol engine and a high output electric motor the
Audi may not be the first manufacturer thatPrius switches between the two, the electric
comes to mind when it comes to economicalmotor takes charge at low speeds (up to 28
cars, but this just goes to show how seriousmph), with the petrol engine taking the strain at
manufacturers are now taking the situation wehigher speeds. The result, a combined cycle of
find ourselves in. The A3 1.9 TDIe is powered by65.7 miles per gallon, making the Toyota Prius an
a reworked diesel unit and this combined withideal car not only for the city, but also for those
aerodynamic tweaks, low-resistance tyres and awho choose to commute.
‘recommended gear’ display mean theSkoda Fabia 1.4 TDI PD 80 GreenLine
Audi will travel 62.8 miles for every gallon on theAnother offering from the Volkswagen stable to
combined cycle. So, if you you’re looking fortake a trip down to the wind tunnel is the Skoda
a car with green credentials, but don’t wantFabia Greenline, it may not quite match up to the
to compromise on quality, the A3 1.9 TDIe mayPolo Bluemotion or the Seat Ibiza Ecomotive, it is
tick all the boxes you require.however, quite a bit more frugal than the rest of
Citroen C1 1.0i Vibe 3 doorthe Fabia range. Achieving 68.9 miles per gallon on
The Citroen C1 could just as easily be substitutedthe combined cycle, the Greenline should
with the Peugeot 107 or the Toyota Aygo astheoretically drive 689 miles on a full tank, put into
they all share the same platforms and the sameperspective, that’s seventy miles more than
engines, that said the C1 was chosen for onea standard Fabia 1.4 TDI. The Greenline may cost
thing and one thing alone, price. Designed ina little more than its siblings, but with petrol and
collaboration between the three manufacturers, alldiesel prices as they are, it won’t take very
are extremely capable city cars with low roadlong before you’ve recouped the cash.
fund bandings and good mpg figures, slightNew Mazda 2 1.3 TS
cosmetic differences are really the only thingsGenerally, as we get older, we add weight,
that set the models apart, that and the fact thatsomething that also seems to happen to cars.
Citroen run slightly better offers making them theRedesigns and facelifts always seem to add a
lowest priced model. Powered by a one litre petrolfew pounds here and there and as a result larger,
engine the C1 will return 61.8 miles per gallon onmore powerful engines are required just to
the combined cycle and has Co2 emissions of 108achieve the same performance. Not so with the
g/km.new Mazda 2. When Mazda launched the new 2
New BMW 1 Series 118d EfficientDynamicsmodel it weighed in an incredible 100 kgs lighter
Voted World green car of the year in 2008 bythan the model it replaced. It’s safer (five
47 journalists from 24 different countries, thestars from EuroNCAP for adult occupants), has
BMW 118d EfficientDynamics makes use ofmore equipment as standard, yet still manages
energy capture systems, brake energy52.3 miles per gallon on the combined cycle, quite
regeneration, auto stop-start, optimum gear-shiftan achievement really.