Most fuel-efficient car in South Africa at R250,000, R500,000, R750,000, and R1 million

Finding a fuel-efficient ride shouldn’t be too difficult in South Africa.

We therefore scoured the new-car market for the most economical set of wheels at four different price brackets to give you a better idea of what’s on offer in your budget.

R250,000 – Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL Auto / Toyota Vitz 1.0 XR Auto

The Suzuki Celerio and Toyota Vitz with automatic gearboxes are the most frugal sets of wheels under R250,000 in South Africa

The half-siblings are built on the same platform and feature the exact same 1.0-litre petrol engine churning out 49kW and 89Nm.

Matched to a self-shifting gearbox with five cogs, the hatchbacks report an average fuel usage of just 4.2l/100km, resulting in a claimed range of 762km on a single 32-litre tank.

The Celerio can be yours for R225,900, which includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan.

If you’re after the Vitz instead, expect to pay R239,900 and receive a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 2-services/30,000km service plan.

R500,000 – Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XS

Toyota again takes the crown for the least thirsty car under R500,000 with the evergreen Corolla Cross Hybrid.

The popular crossover boasts a 1.8-litre petrol mill good for 72kW and 142Nm, in combination with an electric motor that adds a further 53kW and 163Nm to the equation.

Total power output is listed at 90kW, though the manufacturer does not disclose the maximum torque numbers of its hybrids due to the “complexity” of these drivetrains, it previously said.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) channels power to the front axle, resulting in a claimed fuel consumption of 4.3l/100km in mixed conditions.

This lends the car a maximum traveling distance of an impressive 837km.

Due to its semi-electric nature, this Corolla Cross can also creep along at low speeds on battery power alone and boasts regenerative braking capabilities.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid XS is available for R486,100 and comes with a 3-year/100,000km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/195,000km battery warranty, and a 6-services/90,000km service plan.

R750,000 – Honda Fit 1.5 Hybrid e.HEV

Within the R500,000 to R750,000 price bracket, no car is lighter on juice than the Honda Fit e.HEV.

Under the hood of this Honda, you’ll find a 1.5-litre petrol block working alongside a small e-motor to push out an aggregate of 90kW and 253Nm, which is fed to the front wheels with a CVT.

The hybridized Fit is, in fact, the most fuel-efficient hatchback in South Africa with a reading of just 3.7l/100km, allowing it to eclipse 1,081km before needing to be refilled.

Honda’s semi-electric Fit goes for R544,900 which is complemented by a 5-year/200,000km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/200,000km hybrid system warranty, and a 4-year/60,000km service plan.

R1 million – Lexus UX 300h EX

You guessed it, another hybrid – the Lexus UX 300h is the petrol usage champion at sub-R1 million.

It makes do with a 2.0-litre internal combustion engine partnered up with an e-motor for a total potential of 146kW.

Again, Toyota, and by extension Lexus, do not reveal the combined twisting power of their hybrids, with the UX’s being listed at 188Nm for the petrol motor plus e-torque.

Nevertheless, the crossover employs a CVT and front-wheel-drive setup much like other vehicles on this list, and it sips fuel at a rate of 4.2l/100km.

Lexus also says its UX hybrid can muster a total driving range of 1,024km on a full tank.

The luxurious Japanese crossover sells from R910,900 and gets a 7-year/105,000km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/195,000km hybrid battery warranty, and a 7-year/105,000km service plan.