Fuel efficiency is a top priority for both carmakers and their customers in modern times with the ever-increasing costs of petrol and diesel putting strain on many consumers’ wallets.
Fortunately, the South African car market offers a plethora of fuel-efficient vehicles that will suit anyone’s budget and requirements, with over 44 brands competing in this space.
In modern times, an economical vehicle isn’t that hard to find anymore as technologies such as turbocharging and hybrid systems are becoming more prevalent in the industry by the day.
We have vehicles like the powerful Range Rover Sport that only sips 0.6 litres of petrol for every 100km driven thanks to its plug-in hybrid system that allows the SUV to drive on battery alone in certain conditions.
The iconic Toyota Corolla also has a parallel hybrid foundation lending it the lowest fuel consumption of any Toyota on the market, and even Chinese automakers who are traditionally not known for their efficient motors have been leveraging hybrid tech to improve their vehicles, with the Haval Jolion Hybrid burning petrol at a low rate of 5.0l/100km.
The turbocharged VW Polo Vivo GT may not have hybrid assistance under its hood, but it does have a better economy reading than any of its naturally-aspirated siblings as well as more power, ditto with the Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo Visia.
Whether you’re after a hatchback, sedan, SUV, bakkie, or even a people-mover with six or seven seats, you will be able to find one on the local market with excellent fuel consumption.
Most fuel-efficient rides you can buy
The most fuel-efficient cars from every major brand that is currently available in South Africa are listed below.
Click on the underlined prices for more information.
Alfa Romeo Tonale 1.5T Hybrid – 5.7l/100km
- Price – R779,900
- Power – 118kW/240Nm
Aston Martin DB11 V8 – 9.9l/100km
- Price – POA
- Power – 375kW/675Nm
Audi A1 Sportback 30TFSI – 4.8l/100km
- Price – R487,300
- Power – 85kW/200Nm
BAIC Beijing X55 – 7.2l/100km
- Price – R429,900
- Power – 130kW/305Nm
Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid – 3.2l/100km
- Price – R5,120,000
- Power – 400kW/750Nm
BMW X1 xDrive30e – 1.6l/100km
- Price – R1,050,000
- Power – 110kW/320Nm
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 LiT Auto – 6.8l/100km
- Price – R314,900
- Power – 83kW/138Nm
Citroen C3 1.2 Feel – 5.6l/100km
- Price – R229,900
- Power – 61kW/115Nm
Ferrari 296 GTB – 6.4l/100km
- Price – R6,804,200
- Power – 610kW/740Nm
Fiat 500 TwinAir – 4.0l/100km
- Price – R265,900
- Power – 63kW/145Nm
Ford Puma 1.0T – 5.3l/100km
- Price – R569,900
- Power – 92kW/170Nm
GWM Steed 5 2.0VGT Single Cab S – 7.6l/100km
- Price – R299,950
- Power – 110kW/320Nm
Haval Jolion 1.5 HEV – 5.0l/100km
- Price – R549,950
- Power – 140kW/375Nm
Honda Fit 1.5 Hybrid e.HEV – 3.7l/100km
- Price – R529,900
- Power – 80kW/253Nm
Hyundai Grand i10 1.0 – 5.5l/100km
- Price – R234,500
- Power – 49kW/94Nm
Ineos Grenadier 3.0TD – 9.3l/100km
- Price – R1,717,100
- Power – 183kW/550Nm
Isuzu mu-X 1.9TD LS – 7.0l/100km
- Price – R708,000
- Power – 110kW/350Nm
JAC T8 2.0CTi Double Cab – 7.8l/100km
- Price – R449,900
- Power – 104kW/320Nm
Jaguar E-Pace P300e AWD – 2.0l/100km
- Price – R1,613,000
- Power – 227kW/540Nm
Jeep Renegade 1.4T – 5.9l/100km
- Price – R510,900
- Power – 103kW/230Nm
Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi LX – 4.9l/100km
- Price – R627,995
- Power – 100kW/320Nm
Lamborghini Revuelto – 13.0l/100km
- Price – R12,800,000
- Power – 747kW/725+eNm
Land Rover Defender 110 P400e
- Price – R2,135,900
- Power – 297kW/640Nm
Lexus UX 250h – 4.5l/100km
- Price – R857,900
- Power – 135kW/188Nm
Mahindra XUV300 1.5TD W8 – 4.8l/100km
- Price – R374,999
- Power – 86kW/300Nm
Maserati Ghibli GT – 8.2l/100km
- Price – R2,350,000
- Power – 243kW/450Nm
Mazda 2 1.5 – 5.7l/100km
- Price – R307,100
- Power – 85kW/148Nm
McLaren GT – 10.8l/100km
- Price – POA
- Power – 456kW/630Nm
Mercedes-Benz CLA220d – 4.4l/100km
- Price – R944,198
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
Mini One Hatch 3-door – 5.6l/100km
- Price – R474,009
- Power – 75kW/190Nm
Mitsubishi Xpander 1.5 Manual – 6.7l/100km
- Price – R355,995
- Power – 77kW/141Nm
Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo Visia – 5.2l/100km
- Price – R277,900
- Power – 74kW/160Nm
Omoda C5 1.5T 230T – 6.9l/100km
- Price – R447,900
- Power – 115kW/230Nm
Opel Combo Life 1.6TD Enjoy – 5.0l/100km
- Price – R464,900
- Power – 68kW/230Nm
Peugeot 208 1.2 – 5.8l/100km
- Price – R334,900
- Power – 55kW/118Nm
Porsche Cayenne Turbo e-Hybrid – 2.0l/100km
- Price – R3,312,000
- Power – 544kW/800Nm
Proton X50 1.5T Standard – 6.5l/100km
- Price – R449,900
- Power – 110kW/226Nm
Range Rover Sport P460e – 0.6-1.6l/100km
- Price – R2,694,400
- Power – 338kW/550Nm
Renault Duser 1.5dCi Auto – 4.8l/100km
- Price – R436,999
- Power – 80kW/250Nm
Rolls-Royce Phantom – 13.9l/100km
- Price – POA
- Power – 420kW/900Nm
Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i – 7.2l/100km
- Price – R579,000
- Power – 115kW/196Nm
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL Auto – 4.2l/100km
- Price – R219,900
- Power – 49kW/89Nm
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.8 Hybrid – 3.9l/100km
- Price – R543,900
- Power – 103kW/142+eNm
VW Polo Vivo 1.0TSI GT – 4.6l/100km
- Price – R341,800
- Power – 81kW/200Nm
Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine AWD – 1.4l/100km
- Price – R1,319,000
- Power – 340kW/709Nm
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