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...
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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.
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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...
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