Most fuel-efficient cars in South Africa
Cars from the South African top sellers, ranked by official combined economy in litres per 100 km, the figure local buyers quote. Volkswagen Polo Mk5 leads this list at 3.1 l/100 km (76 mpg US, 91 mpg UK, 32.3 km/l).
| # | Model | l/100 km | km/l | mpg US | mpg UK | Version | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen Polo Mk5 | 3.1 | 32.3 | 76 | 91 | 1.4 litre diesel, 74 hp (55 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 2 | Suzuki Dzire | 3.9 | 25.6 | 60 | 72 | 1.2 litre gasoline, 80 hp (60 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 3 | Suzuki Celerio | 4.2 | 23.8 | 56 | 67 | 1.0 litre gasoline, 66 hp (49 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 4 | Renault Kwid | 4.4 | 22.7 | 53 | 64 | 1.0 litre gasoline, 68 hp (51 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 5 | Suzuki Baleno | 4.4 | 22.7 | 53 | 64 | 1.2 litre gasoline, 89 hp (66 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 6 | Suzuki Fronx | 4.4 | 22.7 | 53 | 64 | 1.2 litre gasoline, 89 hp (66 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 7 | Kia Picanto | 4.5 | 22.2 | 52 | 63 | 1.0 litre petrol, 66 hp (49 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 8 | Suzuki Swift | 4.6 | 21.7 | 51 | 61 | 1.2 litre petrol, 80 hp (60 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 9 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 4.7 | 21.3 | 50 | 60 | 2.0 litre diesel, 161 hp (120 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 10 | Suzuki Brezza | 4.7 | 21.3 | 50 | 60 | 1.5 litre gasoline, 102 hp (76 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 11 | Toyota Corolla | 4.7 | 21.3 | 50 | 60 | 1.8 litre petrol, 97 hp (72 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 12 | Nissan Magnite | 5 | 20 | 47 | 56 | 1.0 litre gasoline, 71 hp (53 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 13 | Renault Kiger | 5 | 20 | 47 | 56 | 1.0 litre gasoline, 99 hp (74 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 14 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 5 | 20 | 47 | 56 | 1.8 litre petrol, 97 hp (72 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 15 | Hyundai i10 | 5.1 | 19.6 | 46 | 55 | 1.0 litre petrol, 62 hp (46 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 16 | BMW 3 Series | 5.2 | 19.2 | 45 | 54 | 2.0 litre diesel, 148 hp (110 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 17 | Nissan NP200 | 5.2 | 19.2 | 45 | 54 | 1.5 litre diesel, 84 hp (63 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 18 | Chery Tiggo 4 | 5.3 | 18.9 | 44 | 53 | 1.5 litre petrol hybrid, 94 hp (70 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 19 | Hyundai Tucson | 5.3 | 18.9 | 44 | 53 | 1.6 litre diesel, 134 hp (100 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 20 | Volkswagen Polo | 5.3 | 18.9 | 44 | 53 | 1.0 litre petrol, 94 hp (70 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 21 | Renault Triber | 5.5 | 18.2 | 43 | 51 | 1.0 litre gasoline, 71 hp (53 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 22 | Kia Sonet | 5.7 | 17.5 | 41 | 50 | 1.5 litre gasoline, 111 hp (83 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 23 | Volkswagen T-Cross | 5.7 | 17.5 | 41 | 50 | 1.0 litre petrol, 94 hp (70 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 24 | Suzuki Jimny | 6.2 | 16.1 | 38 | 46 | 0.7 litre gasoline, 63 hp (47 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 25 | Haval H6 | 6.6 | 15.2 | 36 | 43 | 1.5 litre gasoline, 148 hp (110 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 26 | Toyota Fortuner | 7 | 14.3 | 34 | 40 | 2.4 litre diesel, 148 hp (110 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 27 | Chery Tiggo 7 | 7.1 | 14.1 | 33 | 40 | 1.6 litre petrol, 145 hp (108 kW) | EU WLTP |
| 28 | Isuzu D-Max | 7.3 | 13.7 | 32 | 39 | 1.9 litre diesel, 148 hp (110 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 29 | Haval Jolion | 7.5 | 13.3 | 31 | 38 | 1.5 litre gasoline, 141 hp (105 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 30 | Ford Ranger | 7.6 | 13.2 | 31 | 37 | 2.0 litre diesel, 168 hp (125 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 31 | Kia Seltos | 7.6 | 13.2 | 31 | 37 | 2.0 litre ice | EPA |
| 32 | Nissan Navara | 7.7 | 13 | 31 | 37 | 2.4 litre diesel, 201 hp (150 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 33 | Volkswagen Amarok | 8.2 | 12.2 | 29 | 34 | 2.0 litre diesel, 177 hp (132 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 34 | GWM P-Series | 8.4 | 11.9 | 28 | 34 | 2.4 litre diesel, 181 hp (135 kW) | Manufacturer |
| 35 | Toyota Land Cruiser | 10.6 | 9.4 | 22 | 27 | 2.8 litre diesel, 202 hp (151 kW) | EU WLTP |
How these figures are compared
For each model we take the most economical combustion or hybrid version and use European WLTP figures where we have them, then manufacturer figures, then US EPA ratings. A row shows only one source, shown in the last column, because test cycles differ: EPA mpg is usually lower than the same car's WLTP figure, and manufacturer figures follow each market's own cycle. Real-world economy depends on driving, load and weather, and is usually higher than any test figure. See our guides for how WLTP and EPA numbers differ, or the fuel economy converter to switch units.