Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 BlueHDi - most economical cars

The Citroen C4 Cactus has the styling to turn heads, but it also has the MPG figuers to make owners smile. If you’re looking for a cheap yet spacious way to rack up lots of miles, the diesel with stop-start tech will take a lot of beating, thanks to a combined economy figure of 83.1mpg. The C4 cactus is comfortable too, with soft suspension and a decent amount of space up front making it ideal for long hauls up and down the motorway.

The trade-off for unusually compliant suspension is handling that’s not very sharp, which means driving enthusiasts won’t be that impressed on a typical British B road. However, the funky cabin has plenty of room, and Citroen has made a highlight of its cost-cutting cabin design. The top-lidded glovebox is bigger than you'll find in most other French cars of its size, while the fixed rear windows mean space is created for deep drinks bottle holders in the back doors.

The UK's most economical cars 

• 1. Peugeot 208 1.6 BlueHDi 75 - 94.2mpg
• 2. Peugeot 308 1.6 Blue HDi 120 - 91.1mpg
• =3. Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi 85PS - 88.3mpg
• =3. Nissan Micra 1.5 dCi 90 - 88.3mpg
• =3. Peugeot 308 SW 1.6 BlueHDi 120 - 88.3mpg
• =3. Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 90 ECO - 88.3mpg
• 7. Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi 110PS ecoFLEX - 85.6mpg
• =8. Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 BlueHDi 100hp ETG - 83.1mpg
• =8. Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi - 83.1mpg
• =8. MINI One D hatch - 83.1mpg