1) Most fuel efficient cars 2) longest range

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What are most fuel efficient standard cars. By that I mean mass producted model. I do an unavoidable commute though a heavy city traffic and I was wondering whats the most fuel efficient car to do this. Usually we use a Micra which gives us about 27mpg on that run. Our 2L Primera GT gives us about 24mpg on the same route. Average speed on route is about 20mph. Probably what really hurts this is you need to give it a bit of welly to merge into traffic. So bursts of acceleration, lots of braking and then stitting idling for long periods. Really slow cars aren't suitable for this kinda driving. You get away with it the micra because its got a really lively 16v 1.0L. Other heavier cars slower cars are just a pain for this kinda driving.

We generally avoid it by going very early and you miss the traffic, and I'll probably cycle once the weather gets better. But I got to wondering what cars are really fuel efficient in urban routes, and also which cars have the longest range. Basically the biggest fuel tank. Again in the urban route.
 
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Che said:
Fox - *chortle* "Lively 1.0L?! Nothing compared to a straight six or V8! Poverty spec!"

;)

Nothing compared to a V10 or V12 ;) What are you poor or something? :p

I can only imagine a V12 would give MPG in the single figures. :eek:

Obviouly its lively compared to other small engined yokes. Every drive a 1L Polo or Ibiza. Woeful.
 
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Firestar_3x said:
Quick question sparky --->

Are you going to buy a new car simply for fuel efficiency or did you already have plans to buy a new car and just want a fuel efficient one?

I never mentioned anything about a new car. The Primera (new to me) has a trip computer. I've been playing with it. Recently worked out the Micra was giving me poor MPG and thought the Primera wouldn't be that much worse And it isn't.
 
Fusion said:
I recently calculated that the vehicle with the greatest tank range, currently on sale in Britain, is the Peugeot 607 2.0 HDI 136 PS. Taking the extra urban figure (56.4mpg), and its tank capacity of 17.6 gallons, in theory it should do 992.6 miles to a tank.

Thats incredible. I wonder how realistic it is.

noob said:

Interesting alright. But its so far removed from everyday driving you have to wonder how useful it is.
 
Gojira said:
Well, my 1.9 CDTI Vectra has done over 625 miles on about 12 gallons of juice (over 52mpg :p ), driving to Glasgow and back, including longish periods of M6 with the cruise set to 80 :D, so that sort of consumption should be possible.

I've only got a 13.4 gallon tank though, so my range limit is somewhere about the 700 mile range.

On the same journey, my old 2-litre petrol Vectra would only just break 40mpg.

Round town is much more in the diesels favour though - 35mpg compared to 22-23 :eek:

Alan Woodford


Thats not bad. You probably would have done better if you'd keep the speed down. They reckon speeds over 60mph decrease fuel economy by 33%. Not that theres any fun in that. Rememeber Top Gear did some test like that, but they got incredibly bored with it.
 
Gojira said:
I'm not so sure. 60mph is noticably below peak torque RPM in 6th in the Vectra (peak torque starts at 2k rpm/70mph), so you are not running so efficently, particularly when you come to hills and such like.

I think I could have got it up to 55mpg, but probably not much more :)

Alan Woodford

I think wind resistance is a factor aswell.
 
Jonnycoupe said:
How about the '3 litre' VW Lupo.

That would do 100km on 3 litres of fuel.

Its a nice idea. Never seen one though. I remember a few years back VW had a MKII golf which would turn itself off and on when you were sitting at the lights. Can't find any info on it.
 
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