The best power : fuel consumption cars

[versus]

Got me thinking today, what cars offer the best power to fuel consumption ratio? We have the ecoboxes doing 60mpg+ but it takes forever to get to 60mph. For cars that take, say, less than 8 seconds to get to 60mph.... which ones offer the best fuel economy?

I'm thinking of this in the same vein as how much BHP per CC a car produces. I remember on the TopGear challenges years ago that the Jaguar XJ did better than a VW Bluemotion despite not being driven economically by Clarkson so there should be some good choices out there now.

Please no odd/quirky cars that you can't buy from a mainstream dealer as it defeats the object of this.

[sjg]

The current crop of 1.4 TSI cars (Polo GTI, Fabia vRS, Ibiza Cupra, A1) offer 180bhp and an EU combined mpg of 45 or so. 0-60 in 7.2 or thereabouts. Of course, actually use all 180bhp and you won't get anywhere near it.

The TG episode where they had to drive to Blackpool on a single tank wasn't testing economy per se, just tank range. The Polo would have had 45 litres, wheras the XJ has 85.

[versus]

Anything not from VAG to consider?

[jackh707]

versus said:

Anything not from VAG to consider?

bmw 120d/320d etc.. gotta be up there?

[Noesph]

Citroen C4 Coupe 2.0 HDi VTS isn't bad, around 9 secs 0 to 60, 140bhp at around 55mpg. Not a hot hatch, but pretty respectable.

207 gti has 175bhp, 0 to 60 in a bit under 7 seconds at 40mpg.



Both are pretty affordable too.

[davepoth]

Corvette.

[Vidmor]

New 328i pretty impressive (and petrol): 239bhp, 0-60 6 seconds, 44.8mpg (but only 4 cylinder)

[chris182]

Clio 182. 182PS, 0-60 in 7s, 40mpg real world, even driven enthusiastically

[ArsE92]

Vidmor said:

New 328i pretty impressive (and petrol): 239bhp, 0-60 6 seconds, 44.8mpg (but only 4 cylinder)

I was going to say that

[ensignia]

Mazda RX-8.

[GBDG]

The recently announced SL350 is 302bhp, 0-60 in 5.9 and is supposed to do 41.5mpg combined.

[Ferb]

My car will do 30 mpg cruising. 420bhp 0-60 5 sec's
Not so good around town

[FRA53R]

chris182 said:

Clio 182. 182PS, 0-60 in 7s, 40mpg real world, even driven enthusiastically

You have a particularly good example then. I get about 37mpg out of my 172 with 80mph motorway driving and some in town I've never been able to maintain 40 even at 70mph motorway and very soft driving outside of that.

[EDLT]

Doesn't the McLaren fax machine manage 30mpg?

[DanielJames]

FRA53R said:

You have a particularly good example then. I get about 37mpg out of my 172 with 80mph motorway driving and some in town I've never been able to maintain 40 even at 70mph motorway and very soft driving outside of that.

My 172 did 43mpg at a constant 80mph :-)

[Waugh-terfall]

MINI CooperSD should be up there surely. It will hit 60 in 8secs, do 66mpg and cost just £30 each year in tax.

[Toaster Pilot]

Waugh-terfall said:

MINI CooperSD should be up there surely. It will hit 60 in 8secs, do 66mpg and cost just £30 each year in tax.

Would you stop wking over diesel minis already?!

[Basil Hume]

DanielJames said:

FRA53R said:

You have a particularly good example then. I get about 37mpg out of my 172 with 80mph motorway driving and some in town I've never been able to maintain 40 even at 70mph motorway and very soft driving outside of that.

My 172 did 43mpg at a constant 80mph :-)

Blimey - what was I doing wrong? I struggled to ever get over 31mpg average on my Ph2 172 back in 2004.

[Matttracker]

Mmm I was wondering this too, I do a 100 mile commute and my diesel a4 1.9tdi Quattro gets around 44 mpg but hit 60 in about 9ish
Remap or a faster car I need the economy!

[Matttracker]

Mmm I was wondering this too, I do a 100 mile commute and my diesel a4 1.9tdi Quattro gets around 44 mpg but hit 60 in about 9ish
Remap or a faster car I need the economy!