REPORT: All of Europe's 15 most fuel-efficient cars get better than 56 mpg
2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet – Click above for high-res image gallery
There are many European cars that can be considered very fuel efficient. However, have you ever tried to put them on a list and finding out how efficient they really are? If you follow us after the jump, you will find that list, which shows Europe's 15 most fuel-efficient vehicles.
Interestingly, the list doesn't include just city cars, either. On it, you'll find subcompacts as well as compacts. Unsurprisingly, the truth is that you'll find that most of them are diesels which, thanks to the upcoming Euro V rules, now include DPF (diesel particulate filters) as standard. Perhaps even more unsurprisingly, the Smart CDI came out on top.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Auto News]
| Model | Power | Avg. cons. l/100km |
Mileage mpg U.S. |
||||
| Fiat 500 1.3 JTD Multijet 16V Pop DPF | 75 | 4.2 | 56 | ||||
| VW Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion DPF | 105 | 4.1 | 57 | ||||
| Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDI GreenLine DPF | 80 | 4.1 | 57 | ||||
| Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFlex CO2 Pack DPF | 75 | 4.1 | 57 | ||||
| Audi A3 1.6 TDI Attraction DPF | 105 | 4.1 | 57 | ||||
| Toyota iQ 1.4 D-4D DPF | 90 | 4.0 | 59 | ||||
| Renault Twingo 1.5 dCi Rip Curl | 84 | 4.0 | 59 | ||||
| Volvo S40 / V50 1.6D DRIVe Start/Stop DPF | 109 | 3.9 | 60 | ||||
| Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe Start/Stop DPF | 109 | 3.9 | 60 | ||||
| Toyota Prius 1.8 Hybrid | 136 | 3.9 | 60 | ||||
| Mini One D DPF | 90 | 3.9 | 60 | ||||
| VW Polo 1.6 TDI BlueMotion | 90 | 3.7 | 64 | ||||
| Seat Ibiza 1.4 TDI Ecomotive DPF | 80 | 3.7 | 64 | ||||
| Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic DPF | 90 | 3.7 | 64 | ||||
| smart fortwo coupé 0.8 cdi pure softip DPF | 54 | 3.4 | 69 |
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
mk15 1:05PM (10/02/2009)
Every vehicle listed is diesel powered save for the Prius.. not unsurprising.
Reply
some1 1:22PM (10/02/2009)
they should just make a diesel hybrid... best of both worlds
Matthew 2:01PM (10/02/2009)
PSA Peugeot Citroen may release its first diesel-electric hybrids in 2010/2011.
Dondonel 3:04PM (10/02/2009)
Not only they are diesel, they are also small, impractical and underpowered. And that hwy rating was obtained in the EU test cycle which is far less demanding than the US hwy test.
Besides, only idiots compare diesel and gasoline fuel consumption in terms of volume. The correct comparison is done using the fuel weight. Increase that fuel consumption with 15% (to account for the difference in density between gasoline and diesel), and you'll see that they are plenty of gasoline powered cars that achieve that mileage (in the EU test cycle).
Kitko 4:51PM (10/02/2009)
Every diesel is here is more expensive to make and buy and emits much higher NO gases.
Unless diesel fuel is subsidized or taxed differently, you need to be a high-miler to justify higher purchasing and servicing costs of a diesel model.
mk3 5:02PM (10/02/2009)
I agree with you 100%. The Golf is the most impractical small, and underpowered car ever. I guess for you the practicality begins with the Cadillac Escalade...
montoym 6:04PM (10/02/2009)
quote from Dondonel:
- "The correct comparison is done using the fuel weight. Increase that fuel consumption with 15% (to account for the difference in density between gasoline and diesel)" -
I don't know about you, but what matters to me is how much fuel I put into my car and how far it got me. If I get 30mpg in a gas car and 45mpg in a diesel car, guess what, the diesel will cost me a lot less in fuel over time. If that's my concern, guess which one I will buy?
My guess is, that's exactly what goes through the mind of 90% of Americans when they buy their vehicles.
Energy density of the fuel I'm using is of no more concern to me than what brand of socks I put on this morning.
Besides, isn't it a better idea to use a more dense fuel source anyhow? Seems to me that's the most efficient way to do it. The more dense the fuel is, the less of it you have to use. Novel concept there!
In my opinion, the only people who seem to care about the density of diesel vs. gasoline are those who are looking for ways to bash diesels from an ever more scarce pool of reasons.
The general public cares more about how far they can go on that 15gallons of fuel they just bought.
Bloke 6:42PM (10/02/2009)
"Not only they are diesel, they are also small, impractical and underpowered. And that hwy rating was obtained in the EU test cycle which is far less demanding than the US hwy test." - Dondonel
They're diesel - a win-win. Better fuel economy, more flexible gearing, better residuals.
They're small - given that these cars are used for commuting and not hauling a boat and a bunch of fat kids to the beach, then there's no problem. Likewise, when parking in European cities, the last thing you need is a Suburban.
Underpowered? Don't be daft. 90bhp in an A-segment or B-segment hatch is MORE than sufficient - at least to those who are used to such cars.
EU test cycle less demanding the the US test? Complete and utter bollocks.
Matt 4:10AM (10/03/2009)
@ Dondonel: "The correct comparison is done using the fuel weight. Increase that fuel consumption with 15% (to account for the difference in density between gasoline and diesel)"
Most people would make a comparison on how much it costs them to "fill up" each week, whether they are putting in petrol, diesel, LPG, hydrogen or plugging into the electricity grid. No need to get technical with it.
Figures for arguments sake...
a diesel car using 20L/week @ $1.30 would cost $26
a petrol car using 25L/ week @ $1.18 would cost $29.50
a LPG car using 30L/week @ $.55 would cost $16.50
To the average motorist, the LPG is the winner.
Dondonel 1:36PM (10/03/2009)
@mk3
'I agree with you 100%. The Golf is the most impractical small, and underpowered car ever. I guess for you the practicality begins with the Cadillac Escalade...'
Golf is an impractical car for an American family. Just put a stroller in the trunk, and the space is gone. If you take two small children to the grocery you'll have to put the groceries in their lap. America is not Europe where people live with their parents till they die. There's nobody there to babysit you and your children in America.
tweek 1:44PM (10/04/2009)
"Golf is an impractical car for an American family. Just put a stroller in the trunk, and the space is gone. If you take two small children to the grocery you'll have to put the groceries in their lap."
Then get the V50, its an estate so will have a lovely big boot. If thats not big enough then I'd have to question the size of your stroller
"America is not Europe where people live with their parents till they die. There's nobody there to babysit you and your children in America."
See that kinda comment just serves to debase your argument. I know its the internet and you can generally say what you please but people are more likely to listen if you dont insult them.
Also, why is the Golf so impractical for americans? The golf has a generous boot and tens of millions of families across Europe with 2/3 children manage perfectly well with Golf sized cars. I'd quite like to know what makes American families so different?
thritter 5:32PM (10/05/2009)
"Why is the Golf so impractical for Americans? ... I'd quite like to know what makes American families so different?"
All those Happy Meals = obese American kids.
But that's only part of it. Americans buy for their largest perceived need: If they expect to drive six people with all their gear to the beach twice a year, they buy a vehicle large enough for those two days. Convincing them that a Golf (formerly Jetta) Sportwagen or a Mazda5 "compact minivan" (or a Golf hatch with a roof box for those road trips) will suit their needs is a hard sell.
And the U.S. national average for a gallon of regular gas is $2.46 and falling, so habits will change either a) never or b) when prices suddenly spike again to $4 per gallon.
Bloke 8:53AM (10/07/2009)
"Golf is an impractical car for an American family. Just put a stroller in the trunk, and the space is gone. If you take two small children to the grocery you'll have to put the groceries in their lap. America is not Europe where people live with their parents till they die. There's nobody there to babysit you and your children in America."
Dondonel proving yet again how clueless he is about the world and most likely still living with his own parents.
Luis 1:07PM (10/02/2009)
The Prius is also one of the largest vehicles on the list, save for the V50 and maybe the A3. It also produces the most power.
Reply
mk15 1:10PM (10/02/2009)
But the diesels make it up with their extra torque.
Mike 2:02PM (10/02/2009)
People are autoblog are just like "arm chair quarterbacks". I'm really starting to believe this statement!
I've driven at least 7-8 diesels in Europe. YES they have torque, but YES they are SLOOOW as all hell!
Their powerband is VERY NARROW! 2300 -3800 then you are at REDLINE and have to shift. By the time I hit 60 km/hr (37mph) I have to be in 4th or 5th gear. In a standard gasoline car you can usually redline higher than that.. or be in 3rd at the highest at like 1500rpm.
If your on the highway and slow down to 45mph, you have to shift down in order to be able to accelerate.. otherwise the car bogs down.
This is on Citroen, Renault, Kia diesels that I have driven. A small car doesnt need more torque! It needs HP. A TRUCK needs more torque. The Brabus smart has 207torque, weighs less than 2000lbs and yet STILL takes 10seconds to reach 60. I rest my case!
Look at the 0-60 times on these cars. The Prius is closer 0-60 to a Bugatti, than these cars are to a Prius!
0-60 Prius - UNDER 10 seconds.
Seat Ibiza - 12.8 (This is the small 2 door 2200lb car!) Yes it gets 6% better gas mileage but its a MUCH smaller car.
This is the NEWEST version of diesel and its getting 64mpg. (8speed DSG etc).
The 10 year old Insight got 65mpg on OLD technology! Less see Honda drop a revised insight motor into a small 2door car such as the Ibiza. I can pretty much guarantee it will get better than 60mpg since it did 10 years ago!
Luis 2:06PM (10/02/2009)
Very well put, Mike. I am probably going to rent an A3 TDI when I do to Sydney next week... but somehow I'm not sure it will be as much fun as I expect.
Maybe this is why these companies are only offering higher-output diesels in the US, because we're too power hungry.
To be fair, do you really need to go 0-60 in under 10 seconds in most of Europe's big cities? Doubtful.
spdracerut 2:27PM (10/02/2009)
After having lived in Europe for 3 months, it's rare that you need a lot of power. If you're driving in the big cities, and especially the small villiages, you're not going anywhere fast, period. Therefore, no need for big power.
The 120hp diesel I had was good enough for cruising at 160 km/h on the autobahn.
mk15 2:40PM (10/02/2009)
@Mike
When people buy these cars, they aren't buying for performance. So if you expected performance from these vehicles, I'm sorry but you'll be sorely disappointed. I have a diesel car myself. It is slow, that's the compromise you get. But going up a hill with 4 passengers and a load of groceries it can handle, the petrol equivalent would probably had stalled just thinking about it.
Sam 2:44PM (10/02/2009)
I drive a diesel van that doesnt have a turbo but its anything but slow...