Real MPG: most economical cars with 1.0-litre engines

NEDC MPG 65.7mpg | Real MPG Average 57.8mpg | Town 47.0mpg | Motorway 53.3mpg | Rural 73.5mpg

The Celerio is a small hatchback designed for life in the city – and that's where it feels most at home. While its three-cylinder petrol engine won't thrill you, it feels plenty fast enough for most situations and, as our test results show, shouldn't cost you much to run. Plus, CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km mean it should be cheap to tax. 

While the Celerio is no longer on sale as a new car, used examples are pretty affordable. We'd recommend seeking out an SZ4 model, which was the range-topping variant. It'll cost you a little more to buy, but comes with useful luxuries including all-round electric windows, front foglights and electrically adjustable door mirrors.

Read our full used Suzuki Celerio review

WLTP MPG 50.7mpg | Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 44.3mpg | Motorway 51.9mpg | Rural 72.1mpg

Every version of the tiny Volkswagen Up is ruthlessly efficient, but it's this 59bhp version which tops the table, with an average Real MPG score of 56.0mpg. This naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) model may not have heaps of power, but performance is adequate around town – plus, it's worth noting that its grunt was increased to 64bhp since our economy figures were recorded. Add in all the Up's other strengths – namely a smart interior and fun driving experience – and this small car proves very competent and easy to live with.

Read our full used Volkswagen Up review

WLTP MPG 54.8mpg | Real MPG Average 55.2mpg | Town 45.9mpg | Motorway 50.0mpg | Rural 70.6mpg

Although mechanically very similar to the Volkswagen Up, the Skoda Citigo was a little cheaper from new. You can no longer get a new Citigo, but that’s no bother – it’s even more affordable as a used buy, and is a fantastic all-rounder.

Don't think of it as a cut-price Up, because in many ways it feels just as polished. It's capable, comfortable and good to drive – and most versions come loaded with useful kit.

Read our full used Skoda Citigo review

WLTP MPG 46.8mpg | Real MPG Average 55.2mpg | Town 46.6mpg | Motorway 49.9mpg | Rural 70.4mpg

The Baleno is the second Suzuki to feature in this top 10, proving that the Japanese brand is well versed in creating cars with small, efficient engines. You can't buy a Baleno from new any more, but they're well worth seeking out on the used market, and prices start from just £6500. For that money, you'll get a high-mileage car, but the good news is that Suzuki usually performs well for reliability. 

While the 1.0-litre petrol engine fitted to most examples of the Baleno only has 109bhp, it feels peppier than its performance figures suggest – although the petrol engines in some rivals are more refined.

Read our full used Suzuki Baleno review

WLTP MPG 55.4mpg | Real MPG Average 54.0mpg | Town 45.1mpg | Motorway 48.8mpg | Rural 69.4mpg

As small cars come, the Seat Ibiza is among the best. It's fun to drive, thanks in part to some peppy yet economical engines, and it's deceptively spacious, too.

Like the Skoda Citigo, it shares parts with a Volkswagen – in this case the Volkswagen Polo – but is cheaper to buy than its VW cousin. Unlike the Citigo, as of writing, the Ibiza remains on sale as a new car, although it’s also about the best used small car you can buy.

Read our full Seat Ibiza review

NEDC MPG 62.8mpg | Real MPG Average 53.3mpg | Town 46.6mpg | Motorway 47.3mpg | Rural 67.3mpg

With tidy handling, a good-sized boot (by class standards) and excellent infotainment on upper trim levels, the Kia Picanto proves itself as a well-executed city car. This engine is the Picanto's least powerful offering, but, unless you're planning on doing much motorway driving, it does its job well and does it at an impressively low cost. It's worth noting that the model tested here has now been discontinued, so is only available to buy used. The good news is the current Picanto remains a very economical choice, as you'll soon find out...

Read our full used Kia Picanto review

NEDC MPG 64.2mpg | Real MPG Average 53.1mpg | Town 42.9mpg | Motorway 48.6mpg | Rural 68.9mpg

This previous-generation version of the Seat Leon family car looks like a bit of a bargain – you see, there are lots around on the used market, and with prices starting from just £5000, the chances are that you'll find something within your budget. Plus, as our real-world test result shows, the 1.0-litre petrol engine should cost pennies to run.

It helps that the Leon is very good at the business of being a family car, too. It's good to drive, with well-weighted steering and a comfortable ride, and it has plenty of space inside for your family and all of their luggage.

Read our full used Seat Leon review

WLTP MPG 58.9mpg | Real MPG Average 52.2mpg | Town 42.6mpg | Motorway 48.0mpg | Rural 66.7mpg

Though this funky city car has some rugged SUV style, the Toyota Aygo X is much better suited to the urban jungle than the actual one. Its 71bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine isn't the last word in power – the 0-62mph sprint takes a leisurely 14.9sec, for example – but it is efficient, whether you're in town or on the motorway. We also like that every Aygo X comes with a plethora of safety kit, and there's the reassurance of Toyota's long warranty should anything go wrong – not that it should, because the brand regularly performs extremely well in our Reliability Survey.

Read our full Toyota Aygo X review

WLTP MPG 49.6mpg | Real MPG Average 51.8mpg | Town 43.8mpg | Motorway 46.6mpg | Rural 66.5mpg

A jack of all trades, the Volkswagen Polo feels just as at home around town as it does on the motorway, especially when fitted with this peppy 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine. In other words, it has decent get-up-and-go, and not at the expense of fuel economy. It doesn't sip fuel quite as gently as its Seat Ibiza cousin, though, nor is it as engaging on a twisty road; it'll also cost you more to buy in the first place.

Read our full Volkswagen Polo review

WLTP MPG 58.9mpg | Real MPG Average 51.7mpg | Town 42.0mpg | Motorway 48.0mpg | Rural 64.9mpg

Like its predecessor, the current Kia Picanto is a remarkably frugal car. And, with the likes of the Citroën C1 and VW Up no longer on sale, it's one of an increasingly rare breed of city-focused small cars.

Unfortunately, once you start to look at the bigger picture, the Picanto is outclassed by key rivals. If it's maximum affordability you're after, the Dacia Sandero is considerably cheaper (not to mention much more practical), while the Renault Clio offers a much better all-round package for not much more money.

Read our full Kia Picanto review

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