Citron says its cheaper to drive in the UK today than it was in 2000

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We're driving, driving, driving like it's nineteen-ninety-nine. Well, not exactly, but Citroën says that owners of its cars in the UK may actually be driving for less money per mile on average than they did eight years ago. Here in the states, gas was über-cheap in the year 2K, but in the UK, where both petrol and diesel has always been more expensive, the price was quite a bit steeper due to fuel protests in September of that year. In fact, Citroën claims that the increased efficiency of its models more than makes up for the increase in the price of gas that took place between the year 2000 and today, even when adjusted for inflation. It's not all good news, though, as the price of oil continues to rise. "Whilst improved fuel efficiency and advances in vehicle design have reduced the cost of filling up, in real terms, the economic benefits of improved efficiency could soon be canceled out altogether if prices continue to rise at their current rate, although our commitment to reducing CO₂ and harmful emissions will not be lessened," according to Marc Raven, spokesman for Citroën.


Press Release:

'DRIVING LIKE IT'S 1999!' – CITROËN TURNS BACK THE CLOCK ON RISING FUEL PRICES

As oil firms Shell and BP announce 'better-than-expected' first-quarter profits1, the price of filling up at the pump has soared by up to 39%2 since the crippling fuel protests of September 2000. Yet continuing advances in vehicle design means that some motorists have actually been able to reduce their costs.

Research by Citroën shows that drivers could be paying up to 27% less per mile for fuel, in real terms, than they were eight years ago - despite the cost of unleaded petrol passing the unprecedented £5-a-gallon mark across many parts of the UK.

With unleaded petrol at 108.1 pence per litre2, it costs just 7.99 pence per mile to fuel a Citroën C1 1.0i city car, whilst back in September 2000 a similar model (Citroën Saxo 1.1i) would have cost an inflation-adjusted 10.94 pence3 per mile in fuel.

And potential savings are not just limited to smaller cars. Citroën's C4 1.6HDi family hatchback boasts 62.8 mpg overall and costs 8.49 pence per mile to run. During the September 2000 fuel protests, its predecessor - the Xsara – would have cost 11.12 pence3 after inflationary adjustments.

"Whilst improved fuel efficiency and advances in vehicle design have reduced the cost of filling up, in real terms," explains Marc Raven, spokesman for Citroën, "the economic benefits of improved efficiency could soon be cancelled out altogether if prices continue to rise at their current rate. Although our commitment to reducing CO2 and harmful emissions will not be lessened."

Cost Per Mile (p) based on UK National Average Fuel Costs

Cost Per Mile (p) based on UK National Average Fuel Costs
	Sept 2000	Apr 2008		Sept 2000	Apr 2008
Saxo 1.1i	8.79	10.94*	Xsara 1.9TD 90hp	8.93	11.12*
C1 1.0i		7.99	C4 1.6HDi 92hp		8.49
SAVING		27%	SAVING		23.7%

*Figures adjusted for inflation³