Fuel Sippers - Part One

 

Turn on the television or the radio and there’s a good chance you’ll hear folk talking about recent fuel price rises and how much it now costs to run a car. As a guide, the average Monday-to-Friday worker now spends AUD$50 – AUD$100 a week commuting in their Aussie ‘big six’ family car. So what’s the solution? Well, you can chase all over the countryside to find the cheapest fuel outlets or revise your driving style but, all too often, these measures are ineffective. Unfortunately, many people fail to really examine the efficiency of their existing vehicle – let’s face it, fuel saving strategies can only achieve so much when you’re dribbling along in traffic at the wheel of a 4-litre Ford Falcon...

In this article we’ll examine the most fuel-efficient new cars sold in Australia. Who makes ‘em, what performance they have and whether or not they’re practical for your needs...

Your One-Stop New Vehicle Resource The easiest way to find the most fuel-efficient vehicle for your needs it to utilise the government owned website, www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au The Green Vehicle Guide is constantly being updated and is a valuable resource for comparing the fuel consumption, greenhouse and air pollution ratings of all new vehicles sold in Australia. Use it to see how good – or bad! – your current vehicle is...

Hybrid Vehicles

The latest boon in ultra fuel-efficient vehicles is hybrid vehicles – those vehicles using the combination of a petrol engine and electric motor.

The Toyota Prius is the most recognised hybrid vehicle sold in Australia. The Prius is a medium sized five-door hatch that offers all the necessary space and practicality to be used as a small-ish family car and drives very much like a conventional Toyota. It’s also uniquely stylish and continues Toyota’s high standards of build quality and reliability.

Under the bonnet, the current Prius has a 57kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder (which employs the Atkinson-cycle principle) combined with a 32-50kW electric motor. Real-world performance is more than respectable thanks to the torque of the electric motor and 0 – 100 km/h acceleration is in the ten second range. But what about the all-important fuel consumption? Well, Toyota claims a sensational 4.4 litres per 100km – that’s about one third a typical Aussie six...

The new price for a Toyota Prius kicks off at AUD$37,000 but be aware that earlier models can be picked up cheaper in the second-hand market. The previous generation Prius (the first series delivered to Australia by Toyota) has a sedan body and doesn’t have the overall appeal of the current series – still, you can pick one up in the low 20s. Japanese import versions can also be found for under AUD$20,000. See Prius Progression for more details on the evolution of the Prius.

The second hybrid vehicle on the market is the newly updated Honda Civic Hybrid. The Civic Hybrid employs a 1.3-litre four-cylinder VTEC petrol engine in conjunction with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) to give a total output of 85kW with 170Nm of torque from 1000 – 2500 rpm. Driving through a CVT, the relatively light (1265kg) Civic Hybrid runs to 100 km/h in 13 seconds and returns fuel consumption of 4.6 litres per 100km – slightly more than the Prius. Note that, unlike the first generation Civic Hybrid sold in Australia, the new model can also run purely on electric power at low speeds.

The new Civic Hybrid is based on the generic Civic sedan platform which is longer and wider than the previous generation. Interior space is substantially increased though note that the hybrid battery eliminates the fold-down rear seat facility. There are plenty of airbags to enhance safety.

The new Civic Hybrid enters the market slightly cheaper than the Prius at AUD$31,990. Early Civic Hybrids (though not as sophisticated in hybrid technology) can be picked up for under AUD$25,000. See Honda Civic Hybrid for our review of the earlier model.

Honorable Mention Though no longer sold new, the Honda Insight remains the most fuel-efficient car ever released in Australia. Delivered from 2001 to 2004, the Insight is amazingly sophisticated vehicle. From its all-aluminum body (which also happens to be the most aerodynamic of any production car!) to its hybrid driveline, the Insight is a stunner. Under the bonnet lives a 1-litre three-cylinder VTEC engine which is optimized for use in a hybrid application and there’s a modest 10kW electric motor that contributes to the 57kW total output. Unlike the other hybrid models, the Insight also comes with a conventional manual gearbox. With 0 – 100 km/h performance in around 12 seconds, the 827kg Insight is no sports car (as its looks might suggest) but its fuel consumption is jaw dropping. While the Prius impresses with 4.4 litres per 100km, the Insight kicks butt returning around 3.6 litres per 100km. That’s similar to a motorbike! Unfortunately, interior space is minimal (it’s a two seater only), there’s not a lot of equipment, the suspension could do with substantial improvement and rear brakes are, ahem, drums... Selling new for almost AUD$50,000, a second-hand Insight hovers at around AUD$20,000 depending on kilometres. See Special Feature- Honda Insight for our full test.

Diesel Vehicles

For those people not keen on ‘taking the plunge’ with hybrid technology, there’s an option that’s been around for decades – diesel. With the introduction of electronic management and high-pressure injection, diesel engines are enjoying a resurgence of popularity in small cars – and justifiably...

The most frugal diesel-engined passenger car currently in Australia is the Citroen C4 1.6 HDi. Borrowing the same high-pressure direct injection 1.6-litre DOHC turbo diesel found in the base Peugeot 307 HDi, the oil burner C4 puts out 80kW and a strong 260Nm of torque. With a five-speed manual gearbox, the 1292kg C4 HDi reaches 100 km/h in just over 11 seconds and returns consumption around 4.7 litres per 100km. These figures are pretty close to the benchmark Prius hybrid.

The C4 offers large hatchback type accommodation and comes generously equipped with cruise control, plenty of airbags, sports seats and brake assist. Sixteen inch alloys give the already attractive C4 a sporty edge. Retailing for AUD$29,990, we reckon this is a pretty attractive buy.

The equivalent Peugeot 307 HDi (using the same 1.6 engine) has less equipment and a slightly cheaper price tag but, more importantly, there’s the option for a 2-litre version. The 2-litre 307 HDi boasts a substantial 100kW/300Nm and can reach 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds – the fastest of all cars mentioned so far. Fuel consumption is increased marginally to 5.2-litres per 100km and you’ll need to pay AUD$32,290 to park it at home.

In direct competition to the Citroen C4 and Pug 307 HDi is the Volkswagen Polo TDi. Interestingly, the Polo TDi engine is a simple SOHC design and, as a result, output is down to just 74kW/240Nm. With a 1204kg kerb weight, the five-speed manual version Polo accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in under 11 seconds – so it’s not a total slug... Claimed average fuel consumption is 5.5 litres per 100km. Neither fuel consumption nor performance are up with the Pug or Citroen but, on the upside, the Polo TDi is very cheap – just AUD$22,990.

Interestingly, the same 1.9-litre turbo diesel is also now available in the Volkswagen Beetle TDi. In the Beetle, however, output is bumped up to 77kW/250Nm. The Beetle TDi comes with a few extras (such as more airbags and stability control) and cost is elevated to AUD$28,490.

The next most fuel-efficient diesels in the country include the Volkswagen Golf TDi/Audi A3 TDi, Alfa Romeo 147 JTD and Mercedes-Benz B180 CDi. Also be on the lookout for the yet-to-be-released Fiat Punto diesels/turbo diesels.

Stick around – in the second and final part of this series we’ll examine the most frugal petrol vehicles and factory LPG options...