Skip advert
Advertisement

Top 10 best cars for MPG and running costs

Driver Power asked UK new car buyers about their cars' MPG and running costs. These are the top ten highest rated

  • Covering: Fuel economy, servicing costs and other expenses, such as road tax and insurance
  • Winner: Polestar 2
  • Score: 94.54%

There’s another feather in the cap of the Polestar 2, with owners voting it the most satisfying car to own for running costs, a category it wins by a decent margin. It’s electric of course, which, even with soaring electricity bills, means it has an intrinsic advantage over internal-combustion rivals. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

But while the Polestar gets a pass in the MPG column, two second places for servicing costs and insurance ensure the car earns victory. Runner-up in the category is the MG5, another EV, which tops the insurance cost table and comes sixth for servicing costs.

Taking third is Hyundai’s Ioniq, which comes top of the table for economy, with respondents split 50:50 between hybrid and full-EV versions. A third place for insurance costs is another Ioniq positive, but the car can only manage 22nd for servicing costs, which prevents it from capitalising on other good scores. 

Last year’s running costs winner, the Tesla Model 3, is still in the running too, with an excellent fifth place behind the overall survey-winning Citroen C4.

Your view

“It’s the cheapest car I’ve ever had to insure, which helps to offset its price. Other costs are minimal because the servicing is included for three years.”

MPG and running costs top 10

ModelClassOverall PositionOverall Score

Category Score

1. Polestar 2Premium Mid to Large SUV17th90.94%94.54%
2. MG5Compact Family Car66th87.66%93.24%
3. Hyundai IoniqCompact Family Car11th91.19%93.09%
4. Citroen C4 Mk3Compact Family Car1st93.39%92.78%
5. Tesla Model 3Executive22nd90.71%91.95%
6. Kia Soul Mk3Small SUV18th90.80%91.09%
7. Dacia Duster Mk2Small SUV4th91.75%90.92%
8. Honda Jazz Mk3Supermini32nd90.02%90.43%
9. Citroen C5 AircrossMid to Large SUV56th88.46%89.77%
10. Toyota Prius Mk4Compact Family Car8th91.45%89.50%
Driver Power car ownership

Now tell us about your car in the Driver Power survey...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best small SUVs to buy 2026
Best small SUVs 21-07-26

Best small SUVs to buy 2026

Small SUVs are among the most popular bodystyles on UK roads, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
21 Jul 2026
Longest-range electric cars on sale 2026
Longest-range electric cars - July 2026 header image

Longest-range electric cars on sale 2026

Racking up mega miles? These are the long-range EVs to pick
Best cars & vans
20 Jul 2026
Best hybrid SUVs to buy 2026
Best hybrid SUVs - March 2026 header image

Best hybrid SUVs to buy 2026

Plenty of SUVs now come with hybrid power, and we’ve picked out the very best buys on today’s market
Best cars & vans
20 Jul 2026
Long-term test: Toyota Prius Excel
Toyota Prius Excel - header

Long-term test: Toyota Prius Excel

Third fleetwatch report: despite the Prius’ sloping roofline, it has proved surprisingly accommodating to rear passengers
Long-term tests
10 Jul 2026

Most Popular

Electricity VAT axe to make EV charging cheaper, but not if you can’t charge at home
Vauxhall Astra GSE connected to a home wallbox charger

Electricity VAT axe to make EV charging cheaper, but not if you can’t charge at home

VAT on domestic electricity will be scrapped from October, thus widening the gap between home and public charging
News
21 Jul 2026
New Jeep hybrid SUV aims to out-muscle Land Rover's Defender, with some help from China
Jeep D-segment SUV - front static

New Jeep hybrid SUV aims to out-muscle Land Rover's Defender, with some help from China

Want a Defender, but can’t stretch to one? Jeep’s new cut-priced family SUV should be cheap to buy, and to run…
News
20 Jul 2026
New Audi A2 e-tron drops some camo to reveal retro design
Audi A2 e-tron spy shot - front cornering

New Audi A2 e-tron drops some camo to reveal retro design

Audi’s cutting-edge new BEV promises to channel the innovation of its iconic predecessor
News
20 Jul 2026