10 Economical New Cars That Achieve Over Fifty Miles Per Gallon

Using the words of Bob Dylan, "Times, they are achange indicators, electric power steering and
changing" and this is certainly true when we looklightweight body panels to achieve a quite
at the habits of the new car buyer. Successiveremarkable 62.8 miles per gallon on the combined
governments have failed to curb our excessivecycle. With BMW expecting sales of 700,000 cars
fuel demands, indeed, for many years cars justa year in Europe that have EfficientDynamics
seemed to get bigger and bigger, with fuelincorporated, the fuel savings are estimated to be
consumption figures dropping, sometimes barelyin the region of 33 million gallons, quite a
hitting double figures. Then came the troubles insubstantial saving by anyone's book
the oil producing regions of the world, swiftlyFord Fiesta ECOnetic
followed by the credit crunch and all of a suddenWhen it comes to economical new cars the Ford
attitudes have changed. Market forces haveFiesta ECOnetic has to be up there with the best
influenced the new car buyer and as a result, theof them. Powered by a specially tuned 1.6 litre
car manufacturers have moved swiftly to fill thediesel engine the Fiesta ECOnetic is the most
chasm that is opening in the marketplace, theeconomical Ford and possibly the most economical
need for comfortable, but fuel efficient new cars.car around at the moment. Longer gear ratio's, a
Listed below are ten economical new cars, not ingear change indicator, aerodynamic wheel trims,
any particular order, or indeed, not even marketlow rolling resistance tyres, lowered suspension
leaders, what they do have in common though isand the fact that it weighs about 40 kgs less
their ability to travel over fifty miles per gallon onthan the outgoing Fiesta mean that the ECOnetic
the combined cycle. They may not be the answerwill let you drive 76.3 miles on the combined cycle
to all our problems, buy they are certainly a stepfor every gallon of diesel you put in. Ford may be
in the right direction.struggling in the US, but with figures like these the
MINI Cooper 1.6 DFiesta ECOnetic it sure to prove a big hit in
The 1.6 diesel MINI Cooper has had theEurope.
EfficientDynamics treatment by BMW, low rollingVolkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI DPF BlueMotion S 105
resistance tyres, electric power steering, an5dr
intelligent alternator control / brake energyUnfortunately not everybody can utilise a small
regeneration system, an automatic stop-startcity car or hatchback, after all some people do
function and a high precision Direct Injectionhave families and this obviously restricts their
system are amongst the advances that havechoice when it comes to buying a new car. For
been applied to the new diesel Cooper and as athose in that position, Volkswagen has come to
result it achieves a staggering 72.4 miles per gallonthe rescue in the form of the Touran Bluemotion.
on the combined cycle.The Extremely popular MPV sports a new front
Volkswagen Polo Bluemotiongrille and air intake, optimised aerodynamics, lower
Powered by a 1.4 litre, three cylinder, diesel enginesuspension and higher gearing along with low rolling
that is fitted with a with a variable-geometryresistance tyres, combined, these improvements
turbocharger that gives maximum assistance atmean that the Touran Bluemotion will return 52.3
low speeds, the Polo Bluemotion is one of themiles per gallon on the combined cycle. Proving
leaders in its class. Volkswagen have used a fewyou don't necessarily have to downsize to do
tricks to get the Polo Bluemotion to perform asyour little bit.
frugally as it does, the obligatoryNew Toyota Prius 1.5 VVT-i
low-rolling-resistance tyres, lightweight alloy wheelsWhen launched, the Toyota Prius was seen by
and improved aerodynamics all contribute to themany as just a gimmick, as a result both Lexus
Bluemotion achieving 74.3 miles per gallon on theand its parent company, Toyota, have stolen a bit
combined cycle. Exhaust gas recirculation and aof a march over their competitors. Exemption
particulate filter give the Polo another advantagefrom the London congestion charge has certainly
over most cars in the UK market, Co2 emissionshelped to raise the profile of the Prius and as a
of only 99g/km, resulting in zero road tax. Lowresult it has become a common sight on the
cost motoring at its best.roads throughout the UK. Powered by a 1.5 litre
Audi A3 1.9 TDIepetrol engine and a high output electric motor the
Audi may not be the first manufacturer thatPrius switches between the two, the electric
comes to mind when it comes to economicalmotor takes charge at low speeds (up to 28
cars, but this just goes to show how seriousmph), with the petrol engine taking the strain at
manufacturers are now taking the situation wehigher speeds. The result, a combined cycle of
find ourselves in. The A3 1.9 TDIe is powered by65.7 miles per gallon, making the Toyota Prius an
a reworked diesel unit and this combined withideal car not only for the city, but also for those
aerodynamic tweaks, low-resistance tyres and awho choose to commute.
'recommended gear' display mean the Audi willSkoda Fabia 1.4 TDI PD 80 GreenLine
travel 62.8 miles for every gallon on the combinedAnother offering from the Volkswagen stable to
cycle. So, if you you're looking for a car withtake a trip down to the wind tunnel is the Skoda
green credentials, but don't want to compromiseFabia Greenline, it may not quite match up to the
on quality, the A3 1.9 TDIe may tick all the boxesPolo Bluemotion or the Seat Ibiza Ecomotive, it is
you require.however, quite a bit more frugal than the rest of
Citroen C1 1.0i Vibe 3 doorthe Fabia range. Achieving 68.9 miles per gallon on
The Citroen C1 could just as easily be substitutedthe combined cycle, the Greenline should
with the Peugeot 107 or the Toyota Aygo astheoretically drive 689 miles on a full tank, put into
they all share the same platforms and the sameperspective, that's seventy miles more than a
engines, that said the C1 was chosen for onestandard Fabia 1.4 TDI. The Greenline may cost a
thing and one thing alone, price. Designed inlittle more than its siblings, but with petrol and
collaboration between the three manufacturers, alldiesel prices as they are, it won't take very long
are extremely capable city cars with low roadbefore you've recouped the cash.
fund bandings and good mpg figures, slightNew Mazda 2 1.3 TS
cosmetic differences are really the only thingsGenerally, as we get older, we add weight,
that set the models apart, that and the fact thatsomething that also seems to happen to cars.
Citroen run slightly better offers making them theRedesigns and facelifts always seem to add a
lowest priced model. Powered by a one litre petrolfew pounds here and there and as a result larger,
engine the C1 will return 61.8 miles per gallon onmore powerful engines are required just to
the combined cycle and has Co2 emissions of 108achieve the same performance. Not so with the
g/km.new Mazda 2. When Mazda launched the new 2
New BMW 1 Series 118d EfficientDynamicsmodel it weighed in an incredible 100 kgs lighter
Voted World green car of the year in 2008 bythan the model it replaced. It's safer (five stars
47 journalists from 24 different countries, thefrom EuroNCAP for adult occupants), has more
BMW 118d EfficientDynamics makes use ofequipment as standard, yet still manages 52.3
energy capture systems, brake energymiles per gallon on the combined cycle, quite an
regeneration, auto stop-start, optimum gear-shiftachievement really.