Best for running costs

Category: Running Costs

Counting the cost of running your car can be a depressing exercise. As well as the initial purchase outlay, there’s depreciation to think about, along with servicing, maintenance, tyres, road tax, insurance, and - perhaps most topical of all - fuel.

Getting the most miles out of every pound you spend on your car is important to any driver, particularly if you are trying to reduce your monthly motoring outgoings. If it’s more cost effective transport you’re after, consider swapping into a model at the top of this chart.

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Fiat’s Panda has proved to be the least costly of the lot over the last 12 months. With low prices, decent second hand demand and fuel sipping engines the Italian city car can help you to spend less without too many compromises.

Fiat is celebrating a double victory, with its 500 city car arriving in second place in the penny-pinching category. Despite being more costly to buy than many of its rivals, Honda’s Jazz proves that you can’t fixate only on the list price by grabbing a coveted bronze medal.

At the bottom of the running costs rank is a model that doesn’t fit in with today’s low cost living mentality. By using a unique rotary engine, Mazda’s RX-8 provides a thrilling driving experience, but you will need deep pockets to enjoy its performance.

What you said: "Good space, reasonable equipment, impressive economy and £30 per year tax without too many small-car compromises. Love it!" - Fiat Panda 1.2 Driver

"Quality feel and great looks. A relatively cheap car that that can hold it's own in any company." - Fiat 500 Owner