With petrol prices at an all-time high and the purse strings stretched to the limit it's become more important than ever to have an affordable car. You needn't go electric or hybrid to save money though; there are many petrol and diesel cars that are now very economical thanks to improved engine technology Here are my pick of the most affordable petrol/diesel powered cars.
Fiat 500 TwinAir
The Fiat 500 TwinAir is powered by lowest CO2 emission petrol engine in the world. The revolutionary two-cylinder turbocharged TwinAir petrol engine does 68.9mpg and emits just 95g/km of CO2. A 0.9 litre engine might sound small but the TwinAir is just as powerful as the 500's 1.4 petrol engine. Because the Fiat 500 TwinAir emits just 95g/km it's qualifies from free annual road text and is also exempt from the London Congestion charge.
Smart Fortwo Coupe
Compact Smart cars are renowned for their ability to fit into the tiniest of parking spaces but they are also amazingly cheap to run. The Smart Fortwo Coupe with the 54hp CDi Turbodiesel engine is capable of doing an average of 83.1 miles per gallon and according to Smart can do as much as 100mpg if you drive smartly! The Smart Fortwo Coupe also has one of the lowest CO2 emissions of any fuel powered car on the road, emitting just 87g/km of CO2. Of course this means the Smart is exempt from congestion charges and road tax.
SEAT Ibiza SC E Ecomotive
Ecomotive is SEATs version of Ford's Econetic- efficient engines and lower C02 emissions is the aim of the game. SEAT claim that the SEAT Ibiza SC E Ecomotive is one of the 'greenest cars in its class' and with C02 emissions of just 92g/km it doesn't do bad! The 75PS 1.2 TDI engine promises 80.7 mpg on the combined cycle. Start Stop technology and clever Brake Energy Recovery System all help to reduce fuel consumption. There is no annual road tax to pay if you buy a SEAT Ibiza SC E Ecomotive.
Ford Fiesta Econetic
The Ford Fiesta is one best-selling model in the UK and the Econetic model is the best in its class for fuel efficiency and green credentials. The 1.6-litre TDCi Duratorq diesel engine emits just 98g/km of CO2 and averages an impressive 76.3mpg (88.3mpg for the extra urban cycle). If you drive the Econetic Ford Fiesta in London you'll be exempt from road tax and the congestion charge as it emits less than the 100g/km threshold. Even better the Ford Fiesta Econetic is also a couple of hundred cheaper than the equivalent Fiesta Zetec with a standard 1.6TDCi engine.
Fiat 500 TwinAir
The Fiat 500 TwinAir is powered by lowest CO2 emission petrol engine in the world. The revolutionary two-cylinder turbocharged TwinAir petrol engine does 68.9mpg and emits just 95g/km of CO2. A 0.9 litre engine might sound small but the TwinAir is just as powerful as the 500's 1.4 petrol engine. Because the Fiat 500 TwinAir emits just 95g/km it's qualifies from free annual road text and is also exempt from the London Congestion charge.
Smart Fortwo Coupe
Compact Smart cars are renowned for their ability to fit into the tiniest of parking spaces but they are also amazingly cheap to run. The Smart Fortwo Coupe with the 54hp CDi Turbodiesel engine is capable of doing an average of 83.1 miles per gallon and according to Smart can do as much as 100mpg if you drive smartly! The Smart Fortwo Coupe also has one of the lowest CO2 emissions of any fuel powered car on the road, emitting just 87g/km of CO2. Of course this means the Smart is exempt from congestion charges and road tax.
SEAT Ibiza SC E Ecomotive
Ecomotive is SEATs version of Ford's Econetic- efficient engines and lower C02 emissions is the aim of the game. SEAT claim that the SEAT Ibiza SC E Ecomotive is one of the 'greenest cars in its class' and with C02 emissions of just 92g/km it doesn't do bad! The 75PS 1.2 TDI engine promises 80.7 mpg on the combined cycle. Start Stop technology and clever Brake Energy Recovery System all help to reduce fuel consumption. There is no annual road tax to pay if you buy a SEAT Ibiza SC E Ecomotive.
Ford Fiesta Econetic
The Ford Fiesta is one best-selling model in the UK and the Econetic model is the best in its class for fuel efficiency and green credentials. The 1.6-litre TDCi Duratorq diesel engine emits just 98g/km of CO2 and averages an impressive 76.3mpg (88.3mpg for the extra urban cycle). If you drive the Econetic Ford Fiesta in London you'll be exempt from road tax and the congestion charge as it emits less than the 100g/km threshold. Even better the Ford Fiesta Econetic is also a couple of hundred cheaper than the equivalent Fiesta Zetec with a standard 1.6TDCi engine.
