New cars are becoming more economical all the time. It is now common to see new cars returning more than 80mpg: even mainstream family cars regularly average more than 65mpg.
Buying a fuel-efficient new car is more important than ever before, with record fuel prices pushing up costs for motorists at the pumps.
An added benefit of good fuel economy is low CO2 emissions, too - and as car taxation is based on CO2, reducing emissions here brings many benefits, including free road tax.
For an extra bonus, all these cars get company car tax benefits - and they can travel into the London congestion charge zone for free, too!
So which ARE the most economical cars in Britain? MSN Cars is committed to bringing you details of the cars with the best fuel economy on sale in the UK.
Read on to discover the most economical new cars on sale.
1 Smart Fortwo cdi - 86g/km
The most economical new car on sale in Britain is the Smart Fortwo cdi diesel. It averages an incredible 85.6mpg.
It only seats two, and the clattery diesel engine is not the fastest or most refined on sale. However, if ultimate economy is all, it should top your list.
New Fortwo cdis cost from £9,825.
2= Toyota Prius T3 - 89g/km
The world-famous Toyota Prius was the first mainstream eco car to gain cult appeal. It has now sold in its millions.
The greenest is the entry-level T3 trim. With its smaller, lower-drag wheels, it averages 72.4mpg and emits just 89g/km CO2.
New Priuses cost from £20,695.
3= Toyota Auris Hybrid - 89g/km
The Toyota Auris HSD is a British-built alternative to the Toyota Prius, although it shares the petrol-electric driveline.
It averages 74.3mpg, and is better than the Prius in town for economy, although the smoother Prius wins on a run. Which is best for you?
New Auris Hybrids cost from £19,545.
4= Skoda Fabia Greenline - 89g/km
Skoda's super-practical supermini averages 83.1mpg and emits 89g/km CO2, making it the greenest supermini on sale.
We rate the Fabia highly here at MSN Cars and would happily trade 2.5mpg over the Smart for five-seat flexibility.
New Fabia Greenlines cost from £13,685.
5 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion - 91g/km
Volkswagen's mini-Golf Polo is offered in green-focused BlueMotion guise, using the same 1.2 TDI diesel engine as the Skoda.
It's not quite as eco, but 80.7mpg is still impressive, and 91g/km CO2 is among the lowest on sale.
New Polo BlueMotions cost from £14,860.
6 SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive - 92g/km
SEAT's VW Polo-based Ibiza returns the same 80.7mpg as the VW - the smallest of differences account for the extra 1g/km CO2.
The SEAT is, however, the cheaper car to buy new, making it the smarter green buy of the two.
New Ibiza Ecomotives cost from £13,900.
7= Lexus CT 200h - 94g/km
The UK's first premium hatch hybrid, the Lexus CT 200h boasts fame from both the Kylie adverts AND average fuel economy of 69mpg.
It emits just 94g/km, from its Toyota Prius-derived petrol-electric drivetrain, and is very well equipped.
New Lexus CT 200h models cost from £23,485.
7= Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 95 Stop/Start - 94g/km
The Vauxhall Corsa has been facelifted for 2011, with new looks and colours, plus some more economical diesel engines.
It can be fitted with stop-start which, on the punchy 95hp 1.3-litre diesel, provides 94g/km CO2 emissions and average fuel economy of 80.7mpg.
New Vauxhall Corsa CDTis cost from £13,310.
9= Fiat 500 0.9 TwinAir - 95g/km
The revolutionary two-cylinder turbocharged TwinAir petrol engine in the Fiat 500 is cutting-edge technology that is both powerful and fuel efficient.
Take it easy and it returns 68.9mpg: CO2 emissions are just 95g/km and it benefits from lower exhaust particulates than a comparable diesel engine.
New Fiat 500 TwinAirs cost from £10,865.
9= Fiat Punto Evo 1.3 MultiJet 85 Eco - 95g/km
The latest version of the 1.3-litre Fiat Punto Evo MultiJet turbodiesel can average over 78mpg, making it the most fuel-efficient Punto yet.
Ongoing tweaks to the diesel have also cut CO2 emissions to just 95g/km. A bargain-priced, practical fuel-saver.
New Punto Evo Multijets cost from £12,195.
Buying a fuel-efficient new car is more important than ever before, with record fuel prices pushing up costs for motorists at the pumps.
An added benefit of good fuel economy is low CO2 emissions, too - and as car taxation is based on CO2, reducing emissions here brings many benefits, including free road tax.
For an extra bonus, all these cars get company car tax benefits - and they can travel into the London congestion charge zone for free, too!
So which ARE the most economical cars in Britain? MSN Cars is committed to bringing you details of the cars with the best fuel economy on sale in the UK.
Read on to discover the most economical new cars on sale.
1 Smart Fortwo cdi - 86g/km
 |
| Smart Fortwo cdi - 86g/km |
It only seats two, and the clattery diesel engine is not the fastest or most refined on sale. However, if ultimate economy is all, it should top your list.
New Fortwo cdis cost from £9,825.
2= Toyota Prius T3 - 89g/km
 |
| Toyota Prius T3 - 89g/km |
The greenest is the entry-level T3 trim. With its smaller, lower-drag wheels, it averages 72.4mpg and emits just 89g/km CO2.
New Priuses cost from £20,695.
3= Toyota Auris Hybrid - 89g/km
 |
| Toyota Auris Hybrid - 89g/km |
It averages 74.3mpg, and is better than the Prius in town for economy, although the smoother Prius wins on a run. Which is best for you?
New Auris Hybrids cost from £19,545.
4= Skoda Fabia Greenline - 89g/km
 |
| Skoda Fabia Greenline - 89g/km |
We rate the Fabia highly here at MSN Cars and would happily trade 2.5mpg over the Smart for five-seat flexibility.
New Fabia Greenlines cost from £13,685.
5 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion - 91g/km
 |
| Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion - 91g/km |
It's not quite as eco, but 80.7mpg is still impressive, and 91g/km CO2 is among the lowest on sale.
New Polo BlueMotions cost from £14,860.
6 SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive - 92g/km
 |
| SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive - 92g/km |
The SEAT is, however, the cheaper car to buy new, making it the smarter green buy of the two.
New Ibiza Ecomotives cost from £13,900.
7= Lexus CT 200h - 94g/km
 |
| Lexus CT 200h - 94g/km |
It emits just 94g/km, from its Toyota Prius-derived petrol-electric drivetrain, and is very well equipped.
New Lexus CT 200h models cost from £23,485.
7= Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 95 Stop/Start - 94g/km
 |
| Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 95 Stop/Start - 94g/km |
It can be fitted with stop-start which, on the punchy 95hp 1.3-litre diesel, provides 94g/km CO2 emissions and average fuel economy of 80.7mpg.
New Vauxhall Corsa CDTis cost from £13,310.
9= Fiat 500 0.9 TwinAir - 95g/km
 |
| Fiat 500 0.9 TwinAir - 95g/km |
Take it easy and it returns 68.9mpg: CO2 emissions are just 95g/km and it benefits from lower exhaust particulates than a comparable diesel engine.
New Fiat 500 TwinAirs cost from £10,865.
9= Fiat Punto Evo 1.3 MultiJet 85 Eco - 95g/km
 |
| Fiat Punto Evo 1.3 MultiJet 85 Eco - 95g/km |
Ongoing tweaks to the diesel have also cut CO2 emissions to just 95g/km. A bargain-priced, practical fuel-saver.
New Punto Evo Multijets cost from £12,195.
