Sales of the most fuel-efficient cars could be set for a boost after new research by AA Cars revealed that almost nine out of 10 of drivers now put fuel economy among their top three priorities when buying a car. The findings come after separate AA data recorded that average petrol prices are 26% higher than a year ago, at 170.60p a litre, while the average cost of diesel is 182.58p, 33% more than the same month in 20212.

 

The rising cost of living may also be pushing people to favour cars which will cost them less to run. The AA Cars poll of more than 15,000 drivers found that a quarter (24%) rank good fuel economy as the most important thing they would look for in a car if they were to buy one this year, with 87% listing it among their top three criteria.

A mere 9% of drivers said they would not rank fuel efficiency as a priority, while 4% said it was irrelevant because they only want to buy an Electric Vehicle. Of those who listed fuel economy among their top three priorities for a new car, a third (31%) said they would not have ranked it as highly this time last year, suggesting that the surging cost of fuel in 2022 has had a major impact on people’s car-buying preferences.

The high cost of fuel is also contributing to stronger sales of Electric Vehicles. Battery EVs made up 13.9% of all new car sales in the first seven months of 20223, while sales of second-hand EVs more than doubled in the first quarter of the year.  

AA Cars’ tips on maximising your car's fuel efficiency

·         Miles per gallon — or MPG — is the best indicator of how fuel efficient a car is. It shows how many miles you can drive on a gallon of fuel; the higher the MPG, the less fuel is consumed as you drive. 

·         There is a caveat to those MPG figures, though. They are based on laboratory testing, so the number of miles you will actually achieve per gallon may differ to the manufacturer's official figures. Nevertheless MPG figures can be a very useful indicator when comparing vehicles. 

·         Driving your car more efficiently can also save you a lot of money in fuel, and will also cause less wear and tear to your car, reducing your maintenance costs over time. For  instance, with manual cars, shifting up a gear earlier can reduce fuel usage as the engine won’t be running at higher revs. However, be sure not to labour the engine as that can cause long-term damage.

·         Think ahead when driving. By anticipating what other road users are likely to do and situations down the road, you should be able to accelerate and brake more smoothly and safely, which can keep fuel usage down.

·         Make sure your car isn’t carrying any excess weight, as it will mean the engine will have to work harder, and if the engine works harder, it’ll use more fuel. Only carry essentials for the journey in the car – don’t fill your boot with clutter.

​James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, has provided a selection of some of the top 10 most fuel-efficient cars you can buy for less than £6,000. 

James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars comments: “The high cost of petrol and diesel has made many drivers reconsider what they want most in a car, and fuel economy has shot up to the top of many people’s wishlists.

“This means that some of the most attractive models right now are those with the best fuel economy. Anyone looking for a car to buy should compare the miles per gallon offered by different models, to get a sense of how efficient each is compared to its rivals. 

“People concerned about the price of fuel may also be considering an EV as an alternative. While EVs typically cost more to buy than an equivalent petrol or diesel model, they come with the benefit of lower running costs. The savings are even bigger when fuel prices are as high as they are right now.

“For drivers who are keen to ditch the pump but unsure about buying an EV, leasing one can be a great way to go electric without the long-term commitment of owning an EV.

“Leasing products, such as the AA Lease give you peace of mind that you will be paying a fixed price each month. Some also offer add-ons which can protect drivers against unexpected life events, allowing the car to be handed back without penalty in certain circumstances.”