Most fuel-efficient cars in every major category in South Africa

Petrol prices may be seeing further hikes in the coming months, making fuel-efficient cars more desirable than ever to cut down on those trips to the pump.

We looked at the most fuel-efficient cars available in every major vehicle category in South Africa to see which ones will give your tank the best bang for its buck.

SUV – Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD – 1.6l/100km

Starting off the list, in a surprise twist, is an SUV – one of the larger body types available on the market.

The astounding 1.6l/100km figure achieved by the Volvo is the result of its hybrid powertrain – using a 2.0-litre supercharged engine in tandem with a rear-mounted electric motor.

With this plug-in hybrid layout, the Recharge is capable of doing 81km on nothing but electric power, and the combined powertrains offer an output of 340kW and 709Nm.

This power is delivered to the all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD has a starting price of R1,218,900 and comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan.

Crossover – Jaguar E-Pace P300e AWD R-Dynamic – 2.0l/100km

Another plug-in hybrid, the Jaguar E-Pace P300e is capable of producing 227kW and 540Nm thanks to its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor.

An eight-speed automatic gearbox connects the powertrain to the car’s all-wheel-drive system, assuring a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.5 seconds.

The Jaguar E-Pace P300e AWD R-Dynamic has a starting price of R1,301,000 which includes a 5-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan.

Sedan – BMW 745Le xDrive – 2.8l/100km

Like the other hybrids on this list, the 745Le XDrive demonstrates the advantages of hybrid technology by being the largest sedan made by this automaker but also boasting one of the best fuel consumptions out of its entire catalogue of products.

Also a plug-in hybrid, the BMW’s 3.0-litre turbocharged engine delivers an impressive 290kW and 600Nm, which is transmitted to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

All said and done, this car can reach a top speed of 250km/h and has a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds.

The BMW 745LE xDrive has a starting price of R2,142,000 and is sold with a 2-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan.

Hatchback – Honda Fit Hybrid – 3.7l/100km

The final hybrid on this list, and one of the cheapest hybrids you can buy in South Africa, the Honda Fit runs on a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor.

Connected to a CVT transmission, this hatch puts out a maximum of 80kW and 253Nm.

The Honda Fit Hybrid has a starting price of R498,600 and comes with a 5-year/200,000km warranty and a 4-year/60,000km service plan.

MPV – Renault Triber – 5.5l/100km

Not only is the Renault Triber the most affordable MPV on the market, it’s also the most economical.

Employing a small 1.0-litre petrol engine, this seven-seater produces 52kW and 96Nm, and makes use of a five-speed manual gearbox to deliver power to the front wheels.

The Renault Triber has a starting price of R193,400 and includes a 5-year/150,000km mechanical warranty and a 2-year/30,000km service plan

Bakkie – Ford Ranger 2.2TDCi – 6.5l/100km

The base model, XL, and XLS versions of the Ford Ranger are equipped with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine, providing them with the best-listed fuel efficiency of any bakkie in South Africa.

On the base model, the Ranger’s powertrain delivers 88kW and 285Nm, with the XL and XLS models increasing this to 118kW and 385Nm, while each specification drives the rear wheels only.

This allows the base model to tow up to 1,500kg, which is more than doubled to 3,500kg with the XL and XLS versions.

Furthermore, while the base model uses a five-speed manual gearbox, the XL and XLS units are fitted with six-speed automatic transmissions.

The Ford Ranger has a starting price of R340,400 for the single cab and R417,900 for the double cab, and all versions come with a 4-year/120,000km warranty.