Which Cars Use the Most Fuel?

With petrol prices on the rise and the RAC warning that British drivers could soon pay an average of £70 to fill up the tank, fuel efficiency is becoming front of mind for manufacturers and motorists. So which cars are the most economical, and which models have an insatiable appetite for gas? Factoring in a mix of urban, motorway and rural driving, the survey used realistic MPG data sourced from independent lab tests to create fuel economy ratings for a host of popular models.

SUV owners pay more for petrol

According to a recent survey from consumer champion Which?, SUV owners pay a significant premium compared to motorists who drive regular vehicles of a similar size. Specifically, drivers of large SUVs such as the Audi Q7, Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail fork out around £400 a year more on fuel than people who own regular large cars such as the BMW 3 Series, Ford Mondeo and VW Passat. Medium-size SUVs use around £200 more fuel a year, while small SUV owners pay £150 more than their small car-driving counterparts.

Small cars offer unbeatable fuel economy

For the small car category, the best-selling Ford Fiesta won points for its impressive fuel efficiency, with diesel models offering MPG ratings of up to 74. Other popular fuel-efficient models included the Volkswagen Polo and the Honda Jazz, which also offer excellent on-road performance.

Models like the Ford Mondeo Estate, BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz E-class estate raced ahead in the estate car category, while diesel models like the AUDI A8 50 TDI quattro 286PS Tiptronic offered excellent MPG ratings in the luxury category.

A new era of electric

Of course, for the ultimate in fuel efficiency there's no looking past electric and hybrid cars. Offering functionality, style and zero exhaust emissions, EVs keep day-to-day running costs to a minimum and come with a host of eco-friendly benefits. In 2019, affordable models like the Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf, VW e-Up and e-Golf are winning over eco-conscious drivers. For a more luxurious ride, the BMW i3 and i8, and Tesla Model S and X are top choices.

Minimising the sulphur content of fuels in one of the most effective ways to improve performance, reduce emissions and promote greener roads. For a closer look at the latest X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques being used to monitor sulphur content don't miss 'ASTM D7220: Accurate and Precise Analysis of Ultra-Low Sulphur (ULS) in Automotive, Heating, and Jet Fuels.'