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The UK's most economical cars

We run 12 of the UK's most economical cars dry to see which travels furthest on the average fill up

The UK's most economical cars

Welcome to the most scientific Auto Express economy test ever! With pump price rises showing no sign of slowing, fuel efficiency is now a top priority for millions of motorists. But just how frugal are the latest fuel-sipping models? To find out, we put the most economical cars from six different sectors to the ultimate test.

We picked two of the most efficient superminis, family hatchbacks, SUVs, compact executives, seven-seaters and cabriolets. All 12 claim official combined fuel consumption in excess of 50mpg. But how far would they go on a £20 fill-up?

That's what we wanted to answer as we set off at a constant 60mph in each car. Plus, to see how they cope in town, we put them through an hour of simulated urban driving. Over three intensive days, our team drove 3,026 miles and spent more than 56 hours at the wheel. After using 230 litres of fuel, the results may surprise you...

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New & used car deals

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,921 off RRP*Used from £8,877
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,480Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £6,700
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,214 off RRP*Used from £10,195
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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