The Affordable Small Cars with the Best Fuel Economy

Small car buyers not only want to save money on their initial purchase, but also on running costs in the future.

So what fuel economy can you expect from these small cars that won’t break the bank?

We selected the models listed in the Small Cars Under $40,000 category of the VFACTS sales charts to find out which is the most fuel-efficient and will save you money in the long run.

We only included the most fuel-efficient variant of each model as numbers may vary based on specific trim levels, body types, powertrains and powertrain options.

The BYD Dolphin was excluded from this list because it is the only fully electric car in this segment.

Click the links below to jump to your selected car or scroll through the story.

Toyota Corolla

Leading the way are Toyota’s Corolla hybrid sedans, which claim a claimed 3.9L/100km on the combined cycle.

Opting for the hybrid hatch increases this figure to 4.0L/100km, with range starting at $32,110 before on-road costs for the Ascent Sport.

Corolla petrol sedans, which start at $29,270 before on-roads, use 5.9L/100km, while hatches increase that figure again to 6.0L/100km.

Fuel consumption falls by the wayside in the powerful GR Corolla, which consumes 8.4 l/100 km with its turbocharged three-cylinder engine.

The GR costs $62,300 before on-road launch and requires a more expensive 98RON petrol engine.

BUY: Contact a dealer about a Toyota Corolla
MORE: All Toyota Corollas

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Hyundai i30

Another car with an economical hybrid option, the i30 hybrid sedan, also has a combined consumption of 3.9 l/100 km.

At $33,000 before on-road costs, the hybrid sedan is $4,000 more expensive than the cheapest petrol model.

i30 sedans with the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) offer the best non-hybrid fuel economy in the range at 6.1L/100km, with the cheapest of the three on-road options at $29,900 begins.

The i30 is also available in the Performance N variant, and its automatic sedan is the most efficient at 8.3 l/100 km.

The manual N sedan and all N sedans consume 8.5L/100km on the combined cycle and start at $46,200 before on-roads.

BUY: Contact a dealer about a Hyundai i30
MORE: All Hyundai i30

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Skoda Scala

The only European car and the first purely petrol-powered car on this list is claimed to consume 5.3L/100km on the combined cycle.

Of the two Scala variants, the most efficient is the cheaper Ambition 85TSI, which starts at $33,590 before on-road costs.

Priced at $42,090 before on-roads, the higher-priced Signature 110TSI is only slightly less efficient, at a claimed 5.5L/100km on the combined cycle.

With a larger 50-litre fuel tank, the Scala is also the first car on this list to use 95RON petrol across its entire range.

BUY: Contact a dealer about a Skoda Scala
MORE: All Skoda Scala

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MG5

The MG 5 is Australia’s cheapest sedan and in Vibe guise is said to have a combined fuel consumption of 5.7L/100km.

The MG 5 range features two different 1.5-litre engines, with the Vibe variant starting at $24,990 auto and the Essence starting at $28,990 auto.

The more powerful Essence has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission compared to the lower-performance Vibe’s CVT, and both variants come with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty as standard.

BUY: Contact a dealer about an MG 5
MORE: All MG 5

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Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 in its weakest G20 version claims a claimed 5.8L/100km on the combined cycle.

Specifically, the G20 sedan is the most efficient Mazda 3. Price is $30,470 before on-road costs for the base Pure, $32,020 for the Evolve and $34,670 for the Touring.

All Mazda 3 sedans match the price of their sedan siblings, but are slightly less efficient with a combined fuel consumption of 5.9L/100km.

The range is covered by Mazda’s five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, but you only get features like wireless charging and wireless phone mirroring on the more expensive Touring variant.

BUY: Contact a dealer about a Mazda 3
MORE: All Mazda 3

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Kia Cerato

Just one model in the Kia Cerato range is said to have fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km on the combined cycle.

Most efficient are the GT sedan and top-spec sedan, both of which start at $36,860 (excluding on-road costs).

The GT sedan has slightly worse fuel economy at 6.9L/100km, but is still significantly more efficient than the rest of the Cerato range, which aims for 7.4L/100km on the combined cycle.

Kia offers a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty on its Cerato.

BUY: Contact a dealer about a Kia Cerato
MORE: All Kia Cerato

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Subaru Impreza

The least efficient car on this list is the Subaru Impreza, which claims a claimed 7.5L/100km on the combined cycle.

All three Impreza variants have the same fuel economy and are more efficient than just the high-performance GR Corolla and Hyundai N models on this list.

The price range starts from $31,490 before on-road costs.

BUY: Contact a dealer about a Subaru Impreza
MORE: All Subaru Impreza

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