These small cars come at a premium, but does that mean you’ll get better fuel economy?
To find out, we selected small cars priced above $40,000 on the VFACTS sales rankings and compared them on fuel economy.
Some of these cars have different body styles, trim levels, and powertrain and powertrain options that cause different economy figures, so we’ll just list them. the most efficient variant of each model.
This segment also includes the electric Cupra Born, GWM Ora, MG 4 and Nissan Leaf, but we left them out for comparison. They will be mentioned in a separate article.
Click on the links below to jump to your chosen vehicle or check out the story.
Peugeot 308
The Peugeot 308 plug-in hybrid is the most fuel-efficient premium small car and consumes a total of 1.4 liters per 100km – although like all PHEVs, that figure is predicated on having a battery fully charged lithium-ion.
Starting at a whopping $64,990 excluding on-road costs, the GT Sport hybrid has a smaller 40L fuel tank and drinks 95 RON petrol – a theme for most of the cars on this list.
Easier on the wallet are the 308 GT petrol and both the hatchback and wagon variants of the GT Premium, all with claimed fuel economy of 5.3 litres/100km.
Gasoline offerings start at $43,990 before on-roads and are powered by a 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
The entire product line features wireless phone mirroring and a 5-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Peugeot 308 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 1.4L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about Peugeot 308 car
THAN: Everything Peugeot 308
Cupra Leon
The Cupra Leon VZe PHEV costs less than the 308 GT at $64,990 drive-away and has a claimed fuel economy of 1.8 litres/100km on the combined cycle.
Like all PHEVs, that number depends on the charged lithium-ion battery pack.
The Leon’s petrol alternatives are more expensive than Peugeot’s offerings, starting at $49,190 for the base V and rising to $65,690 for the range-topping VZx. Sharper drive-away prices are offered from now until June 30.
All three petrol variants have claimed fuel economy in the 6.0L/100km range, with the VZx being the least efficient and most expensive as it requires 98 RON petrol.
The Leon range features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless, and comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Cupra Leon | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 1.8L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about Cupra Leon
THAN: Everything Cupra Leon
Honda Civic
Civic is the first Japanese car on this list and the e:HEV LX hybrid variant consumes 4.2L/100km on mixed roads.
It’s also the only car to require cheaper 91 RON petrol in the e:HEV LX and VTi-LX variants, which cost $55,000 and $47,200 drive-away respectively.
If you don’t care about fuel economy, you can choose the high-performance Civic Type R version, which starts at $73,600 when driving, consumes 8.9 liters/100 km of mixed driving and use. 95 RON gasoline.
Honda supports its Civic line with a 5-year, unlimited km warranty.
| Honda Civic | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 4.2L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON |
BUY: Contact a dealer about Honda Civic cars
THAN: Everything Honda Civic
Audi A3
The 35 TFSI sedan variant is the most fuel-efficient version of the Audi A3 today, with a claimed fuel consumption of 4.9 liters/100 km on the combined cycle.
The hatchback option performs slightly worse at 5.0L/100km, but all 35 TFSIs have a 48V mild-hybrid system that gives them high performance.
The 35 TFSI Sportback starts at $50,600 before on-roads, while the sedan is priced at $53,100 before on-roads.
The 40 TSFI Quattro starts at $57,700 before on-roads for the Sportback and has a claimed economy of 6.6L/100km along with a larger 55L fuel tank.
An updated A3 will launch Down Under before the end of 2024.
| Audi A3 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 4.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about Audi A3 car
THAN: Everything Audi A3
Volkswagen Golf
The Golf is the cheapest and most efficient car without any hybrid assistance on this list, with a claimed fuel consumption of 5.8 liters/100km on the combined cycle.
The Golf starts at $39,190 before on-roads for the base 110TSI Life, while the next-ranked 110TSI R-Line costs $42,290 before on-roads and has the same economy figures.
If you want more performance, you can opt for the GTI, which starts at $56,090 before on-roads and is claimed to get 7.0L/100km on the combined cycle.
Only the range-topping R version requires 98 RON petrol and costs $70,590 on-roads with claimed economy of 7.8L/100km.
The Golf line includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Volkswagen offers a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.
| Volkswagen Golf | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 5.8L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact a dealer about Volkswagen Golf cars
THAN: Everything Volkswagen Golf
BMW 1 series
The first of the BMW duo on this list, the 1 Series has a claimed fuel consumption of 5.9 liters/100 km on mixed roads.
The base 118i M Sport is the most efficient small BMW and starts at $54,800 before on-roads, while its 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine requires 95 RON petrol.
Both the 128ti and M135i xDrive variants use the more expensive RON 98 petrol but are significantly more expensive and less efficient at 6.9L/100km and 7.5L/100km respectively.
BMW offers a standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for the 1 Series.
| BMW 1 series | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 5.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about BMW 1 Series cars
THAN: Everything BMW 1 Series
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
Priced from $65,200 before on-roads, the 220i M Sport Gran Coupe has a claimed fuel consumption of 6.3L/100km on the combined cycle.
For almost $20,000 more you can buy the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe, but it requires RON 98 petrol and is less efficient at 7.6L/100km.
Like the 1 Series, the 2 Series comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometer warranty, along with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
| BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 6.3L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact dealer about BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
THAN: Everything BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Starting at the pricier end of the segment at $63,400 before on-roads, the A-Class A200 sedan has a claimed fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Like the other cars on this list, the A200 hatchback is a little less efficient, but both cars have a relatively small 43L fuel tank.
For $89,400 before on-roads you can buy the A35 AMG 4Matic variant, with claimed fuel consumption of 7.9L/100km for the sedan variant.
The high-performance model uses 98 RON gasoline and has a larger 51L fuel tank, while the entire A-Class line comes with a 5-year, unlimited km warranty.
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 6.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 43L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact the dealer about Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars
THAN: Everything Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Subaru WRX
The least efficient car in the segment is the Subaru WRX, consuming 8.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Subaru’s Impreza is also the least efficient car in the VFACTS segment, but its WRX big brother requires RON 95 gasoline across the range.
Only automatic variants of the WRX post a figure of 8.5L, while the manual and base RS versions instead record a combined consumption figure of 9.9L/100km.
The WRX range starts at $47,490 before on-roads for the base manual version and rises to $57,990 before on-roads for the automatic tS variant.
Subaru offers a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty on the WRX, and the range comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
| Subaru WRX | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (confirmed) | 8.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 63L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Contact your dealer about the Subaru WRX
THAN: Everything Subaru WRX
