What is a Fuel Efficient Car?
Low-emitting vehicles are defined as vehicles that are classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board.
Fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide. The list of qualifying vehicles can be found on GreenerCars.org.
Fuel Efficient Cars In South Africa
4.0 L/100 km – Fiat 500 Cult
The Cute 500 is a bread-and-butter model for Fiat in South Africa and a refreshed Fiat 500 range was introduced to the South African market in 2021. A total of 3 distinct trim lines are on offer including the entry-level Cult, Club, and Dolcevita. The Dolcevita derivatives are available in hatchback and cabriolet guise.
Fiat claims 4.0 L/100km across its 500 range but only the Cult derivative is priced under the R300k price barrier.
The familiar 63 kW/145 Nm 0.9-litre TwinAir turbo petrol engine is found under the bonnet and is paired to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a Manual Transmission Automatic (MTA), the latter of which is exclusively offered in the 500 Dolcevita hardtop and 500C Dolcevita cabriolet
4.2 L/100 km – Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL Automatic
The all-new Suzuki Celerio is a popular choice in the budget car segment and the good news is that it’s more frugal than its predecessor.
The Celerio 1.0 GL automatic claims 4.2 L/100km while the manual Celerio GA and Celerio GL claim a respectable 4.4 L/100km.
4.2 L/100km – Toyota Vitz XR Automatic
The Toyota Vitz arrived in South Africa to replace the outgoing Agya as the firm’s budget car offering.
The Vitz is based on the Suzuki Celerio as part of the Toyota-Suzuki product partnership and the Vitz is therefore powered by the same 3.-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine with 49 kW and 89 Nm and is paired with either 5-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automated manual transmission. The manual derivatives claim 4.4 L/100km.
4.9 L/100km – Suzuki DZire / Suzuki S-Presso / Suzuki Ignis / Suzuki Swift
Suzuki products are well known for delivering low real-world fuel consumption and the Dzire sedan (from R204 900), S-Presso (from R174 900), Swift (from R205 900), Ignis (from R224 900), and the above-mentioned Celerio (from R188 900) are no exception.
The Suzuki Dzire, Swift, and Ignis share the same 1.2-litre petrol engine with 61 kW and 113 Nm on offer and all are offered with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automated manual transmission. The Suzuki S-Presso, however, employs a 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine with 50 kW and 90 Nm.
4.9 L/100 km – Renault Kwid
The Renault Kwid is a popular budget car in South Africa and fuel efficiency for both manual and automatic derivatives is claimed at 4.9L/100km. It’s powered by a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine with 50 kW and 91 Nm of torque.
A 5-speed manual or automated manual (AMT) transmission drives the front wheels. There are 3 automatic Kwid derivatives on offer across 3 trim levels including Life, Zen, and Climber. Pricing for the Kwid starts from R196 999.
What is the safest and most fuel-efficient car?
1. Toyota Prius: This hybrid car has been a fuel economy leader for years, with an EPA-estimated 52 mpg combined. It also has a reputation for being reliable and low-maintenance.
What engine is more fuel-efficient?
Diesel engines
Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and have more low-end torque than similar-sized gasoline engines, and diesel fuel contains roughly 10% to 15% more energy than gasoline.
So, diesel vehicles can often go about 20% to 35% farther on a gallon of fuel than their gasoline counterparts.