These small cars command a high price tag, but does that mean you’ll be saving more on fuel?
To find out, we’ve taken the small cars in the above $40,000 category on the VFACTS sales charts and compared them with fuel economy in mind.
Some of these cars have different body types, trim levels, and powertrain and drivetrain options that cause economy figures to differ, so we’ve only listed the most efficient variant of each model.
This segment also includes the electric Cupra Born, GWM Ora, MG 4, and Nissan Leaf, but we’ve left them out for this comparison. They’ll be covered in a separate article.
Click on the links below to jump to your chosen car, or scroll through the story.
| Make/model | Fuel economy (claimed) | Fuel tank capacity | Fuel type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 308 | 1.4L/100km | 40L | 95 RON |
| Cupra Leon | 1.8L/100km | 40L | 95 RON |
| Honda Civic | 4.2L/100km | 40L | 91 RON |
| Audi A3 | 4.9L/100km | 50L | 95 RON |
| Volkswagen Golf | 5.8L/100km | 50L | 95 RON |
| BMW 1 Series | 5.9L/100km | 50L | 95 RON |
| BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe | 6.3L/100km | 50L | 95 RON |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 6.5L/100km | 43L | 95 RON |
| Subaru WRX | 8.5L/100km | 63L | 95 RON |
Peugeot 308
The Peugeot 308 plug-in hybrid is the most fuel efficient premium small car and sips a combined 1.4L/100km – although as with all PHEVs, that figure is predicated on having a fully charged lithium-ion battery.
Starting at a hefty $64,990 before on-road costs, the hybrid GT Sport has a smaller 40L fuel tank and drinks 95 RON petrol – a theme for most cars on this list.
Easier on the wallet are the petrol 308 GT and both hatch and wagon variants of the GT Premium, which all have a claimed fuel economy of 5.3L/100km.
The petrol offerings start at $43,990 before on-roads, and are powered by a 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
The whole range features wireless phone mirroring and a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Peugeot 308 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 1.4L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Peugeot 308
MORE: Everything Peugeot 308
Cupra Leon
The Cupra Leon VZe PHEV undercuts the price tag of the 308 GT with a $64,990 drive-away sticker, and has a claimed fuel efficiency of 1.8L/100km on the combined cycle.
As with all PHEVs, that figure relies on a charged lithium-ion battery pack.
The Leon’s petrol alternatives are more expensive than Peugeot’s offerings, starting at $49,190 drive-away for the base V and climbing to $65,690 drive-away for the top-spec VZx. Sharper drive-away pricing is on offer between now and June 30.
All three petrol variants have a claimed fuel economy within the 6.0L/100km range, with the VZx the most inefficient and most expensive to run as it requires 98 RON petrol.
The Leon range features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Cupra Leon | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 1.8L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Cupra Leon
MORE: Everything Cupra Leon
Honda Civic
The Civic is the first Japanese car on this list, and its hybrid e:HEV LX variant drinks 4.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
It is also the only car to require cheaper 91 RON petrol in its e:HEV LX and VTi-LX variants, which are priced at $55,000 and $47,200 drive-away respectively.
If you’re not as concerned about fuel economy you can opt for the performance Civic Type R, which starts at $73,600 drive-away, drinks 8.9L/100km on the combined cycle, and requires 95 RON petrol.
Honda backs its Civic range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Honda Civic | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 4.2L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Honda Civic
MORE: Everything Honda Civic
Audi A3
The sedan 35 TFSI variant is the most efficient Audi A3 available, with a claimed 4.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
The hatchback option performs slightly worse at 5.0L/100km, but both 35 TFSIs feature a 48V mild-hybrid system that helps them to an efficient rating.
The 35 TFSI Sportback starts at $50,600 before on-roads, while the sedan is available for $53,100 before on-roads.
The 40 TSFI Quattro starts at $57,700 before on-roads for the Sportback, and has a claimed economy of 6.6L/100km alongside a larger 55L fuel tank.
An updated A3 is due Down Under before the end of 2024.
| Audi A3 | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 4.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about an Audi A3
MORE: Everything Audi A3
Volkswagen Golf
The Golf is the cheapest and most efficient car without any hybrid assistance on this list, posting a claimed 5.8L/100km on the combined cycle.
The Golf range starts at $39,190 before on-roads for the base 110TSI Life, while the next-ranked 110TSI R-Line is priced at $42,290 before on-roads and posts the same economy figures.
If you want more performance you can go for the GTI, which starts at $56,090 before on-roads and has a claimed 7.0L/100km on the combined cycle.
Only the range-topping R requires 98 RON petrol, and costs $70,590 before-on roads with a claimed 7.8L/100km economy.
The Golf range includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Volkswagen offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Volkswagen Golf | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 5.8L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Volkswagen Golf
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf
BMW 1 Series
The first in a BMW duo on this list, the 1 Series posts a claimed 5.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
The base 118i M Sport is the most efficient small BMW and starts at $54,800 before on-roads, while its 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder engine requires 95 RON petrol.
The 128ti and M135i xDrive variants both drink more expensive 98 RON petrol, but are more expensive and considerably less efficient at 6.9L/100km and 7.5L/100km respectively.
BMW offers a standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on the 1 Series.
| BMW 1 Series | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 5.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a BMW 1 Series
MORE: Everything BMW 1 Series
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
Available from $65,200 before on-roads, the 220i M Sport Gran Coupe posts a claimed 6.3L/100km on the combined cycle.
For nearly $20,000 more you can purchase the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe, but it requires 98 RON petrol and is less efficient on 7.6L/100km.
Like the 1 Series, a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty is available for the 2 Series, alongside wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
| BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.3L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
MORE: Everything BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Starting at the pricier end of the segment at $63,400 before on-roads, the A-Class A200 sedan has a claimed economy of 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Like other cars on this list the A200 hatch is slightly less efficient, but both cars feature a relatively small 43L tank.
From $89,400 before on-roads you can purchase the A35 AMG 4Matic variant, which posts a claimed 7.9L/100km with its sedan variant.
The performance model requires 98 RON petrol and has a larger 51L tank, while the whole A-Class range is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 43L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Mercedes-Benz A-Class
MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Subaru WRX
The segment’s least efficient car by a considerable margin is the Subaru WRX, which consumes 8.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Subaru’s Impreza is also the least efficient car in its VFACTS segment, but its WRX big brother requires 95 RON petrol across the range.
Only the WRX’s automatic variants post the 8.5L figure, as the base manual and RS trims instead record a combined 9.9L/100km.
The WRX range starts at $47,490 before on-roads for the base manual and climbs to $57,990 before on-roads for the automatic tS variant.
Subaru offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with its WRX, and the range comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
| Subaru WRX | |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 8.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 63L |
| Fuel type | 95 RON |
BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Subaru WRX
MORE: Everything Subaru WRX
