Nothing great lasts for ever and even though the the oil price is at one of the lowest prices in years, we are still bracing themselves for the inevitable swing back to the horrors of 2008 when prices hit $145 a barrel. Fortunately most car manufacturers are creating some of the most fuel efficient cars that we have ever seen.
For most South Africans the sky high prices of petrol and diesel in 2008 meant the end of long pleasure drives, road trips and even a rethink of how we got to work in the morning, but it also meant that we had to completely rethink the way in which we bought cars. Almost overnight we became virtually obsessed with the the efficiency and CO2 emissions of our cars. Manufacturers followed suit and now we are spoiled with a choice of great fuel efficient vehicles. We took a quick look at some of the best and most exciting fuel efficient vehicles of 2015:
Skoda Fabia 1.4TDi - 3.4 l/100kms
With such an amazing claimed fuel economy, it is a huge pity that Skoda is not available in South Africa. Although personally I am little disappointed by the looks of the Fabia and reports of a much lower actual fuel economy. Nevertheless, this would still be a great option for fuel conscious drivers who are looking for great value for money.
Hyundai i20 1.4 CRDi - 4.1 l/100kms
Hyundai has come a long way since ten years ago and has now firmly positioned itself in the South African market as one of the leading manufacturers and designers. A great example of one of the most fuel efficient cars is the Hyundai i20 1.4 CRDi. It is also a great example of how within the space of a few models, a car can go from average to amazing. If you are looking for something similar but a little cheaper, try the Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi. While it might not be as fuel efficient, it is pretty close. When it comes to actual economy, the Hyundai i20 is also one of the few that actually comes close in real world driving.
Seat Leon ST 2.0 TDI FR - 4.3 l/100kms
You wouldn’t expect a sporty station wagon to be this efficient, but Seat has managed to create something that is not only beautiful, but powerful enough to satisfy most of your thrill driving needs. Spacious and comfortable, this is a great all round vehicle - just keep in mind that this is a family vehicle before you turn the key!
Peugeot 208 1.6 BlueHDi - 3 l/100kms under controlled conditions
Having recently set records for fuel economy under controlled conditions, this 208 is seriously good when it comes to fuel economy. While it might not have a lot of power and costs a little more than many other models, it is worth it when it comes to fuel conscious driving.
Hyundai i30 1.6-litre CRDi Blue Drive - 3.9 l/100kms
Sadly another amazing vehicle that we don’t have yet in South Africa, this i30 features some of the latest of Hyundai’s diesel technology to ensure maximum fuel economy. While the i30 petrol models might be as comfortable, they are not as economical but pretty close. The Hyundai i30 petrol models are currently available at Group 1 Hyundai.
While these are just some of the most fuel efficient cars currently available on the market, we can’t wait to see how they are going to improve for next year.
