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Couple in front of used Citroen

What are the most fuel efficient used cars? 

 

Fuel efficiency is important when investing in a vehicle. Fuel is an ongoing cost that must be paid out on a regular basis. If you are travelling a significant number of miles a day or just want to reduce ongoing fuel costs, then looking into the fuel efficiency of a used car before committing is important. In this article we take a look at what to look out for and how to find the most fuel efficient used cars.  

Electric vehicles 

If fuel efficiency and the ongoing cost of fuel is an important factor when you are researching and looking at buying a second hand car then you may want to consider buying an all-electric vehicle. Electric vehicles don't require petrol or diesel fuel, instead they are charged using an electric car charging point. Electric vehicles can be charged at home or using public charging points. It could cost you half as much to charge an electric car at home compared to paying for fuel at a pump. However, this depends on your electricity tariff, fuel costs and a number of other factors. Take a read of our guide to electric vehicles for more information and help navigating the all-electric movement or browse our used electric vehicles

 

Hybrid vehicles 

If you’re not quite ready to switch to an all-electric vehicle you may want to consider purchasing a used hybrid car. Hybrids combine a petrol or diesel engine with an electric engine which uses a smaller battery. The electric engine typically can achieve 30-50 miles from a full charge before the petrol or diesel engine takes over. By combining the two sources of power you can save on fuel costs but won't have to worry about running out of power or waiting for your vehicle to charge if you’re in a rush. The only consideration is the additional weight of the battery can result in the petrol or diesel engine achieving a lower mpg compared to similar petrol or diesel models. Browse our used hybrid vehicles or used plug-in hybrid vehicles. 

 

Diesel vehicles 

Diesel vehicles are typically more fuel efficient than petrol cars. On average diesel cars use 15-20% less fuel compared to a similar petrol model. Diesel cars do best on long distance motorway trips, this is where you are likely to see the most notable difference in fuel economy between petrol and diesel vehicles. Diesel is however more expensive to purchase, but if you are regularly doing long trips the difference in fuel economy will more than make up for the increased cost of diesel.  

 

One thing to note about diesel cars is that they are best suited to longer drives. If you typically only drive within the city, you might find that a petrol car would be better suited to your needs.  

 

Here is a list of some of the most fuel efficient diesel vehicles currently available to purchase (February 2022). Always check the average expected miles per gallon (mpg) before purchasing any vehicle if fuel efficiency is a consideration. 

 

 

Petrol vehicles 

Petrol vehicles although typically not as fuel efficient as their diesel alternatives do have some benefits you may want to consider. For those looking for a small car for occasional short trips a petrol might be the best option. They do not suffer from issues if they are only driven short distances and are best suited to city driving over diesel vehicles. Diesel cars may be subject to higher clean air zone charges within cities because of their emissions. We have compiled a list of some of the most fuel efficient petrol cars currently available to buy on the used car market (February 2022).  

 

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