Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Petrol, Diesel and Hybrid Cars on Sale in 2024

Thankfully, with petrol and diesel engines becoming more efficient than ever before to meet emissions standards and a new wave of hybrids arriving on our shores, there’s no shortage of fuel-efficient utes, sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks and wagons in 2024.

Join us as we take a look at ten of the most fuel-efficient petrol, diesel and hybrid cars currently on sale here in Australia.

10 Most Fuel-Efficient Petrol Cars

Let’s kick off our look at the most frugal cars on sale in Australia with a glance at the most fuel-efficient petrol models, a list you’ll notice is dominated by pint-sized small cars whose lightweight stature offers great fuel economy figures.

• Suzuki Swift - 4.6L/100km

• Suzuki Ignis - 4.7L/100km

• Toyota Yaris - 4.9L/100km

• Audi A3 - 4.9L/100km

• Fiat 500 - 4.9L/100km

• Skoda Fabia - 4.9L/100km

• Mazda 2 - 5.0L/100km

• Volkswagen Polo - 5.0L/100km

• Ford Puma - 5.3L/100km

• Peugeot 308 - 5.3L/100km

10 Most Fuel-Efficient Diesel Cars

Moving onto the ever-trusty turbo-diesel powertrain that has proven a hit with working Aussies, below you’ll find ten of the most fuel-efficient diesel vehicles on sale in 2024.

• Audi Q5 - 4.8L/100km

• Audi A4 - 4.9L/100km

• Mazda CX-60 - 4.9L/100km

• Volkswagen Caddy - 4.9L/100km

• BMW X3 - 5.9L/100km 

• Kia Sorento - 6.0L/100km

• Hyundai Santa Fe - 6.1L/100km

• Hyundai Tucson - 6.3L/100km

• Kia Sportage - 6.3L/100km

• Mazda BT-50 - 6.9L/100km

10 Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Cars

Now that we’ve covered the most fuel-efficient, non-hybrid assisted vehicles on sale, let’s focus on vehicles with an electric motor to help take the stress off the internal combustion engine and provide some smooth, electric-assisted acceleration off the line.

• Toyota Yaris Hybrid - 3.3L/100km

• Lexus LBX - 3.8L/100km

• Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid - 3.8L/100km

• Hyundai Kona Hybrid - 3.9L/100km

• Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid - 3.9L/100km

• Toyota Corolla Hybrid - 3.9L/100km

• Toyota Corolla Cross - 4.0L/100km

• Kia Niro - 4.0L/100km

• Honda Civic E:HEV - 4.2L/100km

• Toyota Camry - 4.2L/100km

• Honda Accord VTi-LX Hybrid - 4.3L/100km

FAQ: How is Fuel Economy Measured in Australia?

Fuel economy figures for any given car are tested under controlled conditions specified by Australian Design Rules (ADR) 81/02 for the Fuel Consumption Labelling for Light Vehicles.

In these tests, the fuel consumption of a vehicle is tested in two different driving scenarios, both the ‘urban’ cycle, which relates to stop-start traffic around town, as well as ‘extra-urban’ cycles that replicate highway driving.

The urban (town driving) and extra-urban (highway driving) cycles are averaged out into what’s known as a ‘combined cycle’ fuel economy figure.

This is measured in litres per 100 kilometres, abbreviated into L/100km.

This is a standard designed to give a representative figure of how much fuel that vehicle’s engine will consume on a mix of town and highway driving.

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