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SEAT Leon SE Ecomotive 1.6 TDI named the most fuel-efficient car tested by What Car? magazine’s True MPG team over the last year.
The popular hatchback beat more than 200 other models, managing a real-world average fuel economy figure of 63.2mpg.
Since launching True MPG with official fuel partner Tesco in 2012, almost 500 cars have been assessed in real-world conditions, using cutting-edge test equipment, achieving economy figures that are an average of 20% lower than the Government figures.
At the other end of the table, the Vauxhall VXR8 finished last, achieving a True MPG figure of just 19.5mpg.
Even the SEAT’s table-topping figure was below its claimed figure of 85.6mpg – a result of manufacturers being forced by legislation to test their cars in laboratory conditions.
The Citroën C3 VTR+ e-HDi Airdream remains the most efficient car ever tested in True MPG conditions since 2012, achieving 70.3mpg.
The most efficient vehicles tested over the past 12 months
|
Make |
Model |
Derivative |
Fuel |
Engine size (litre) |
Power (PS) |
Official Combined MPG |
True MPG |
Difference |
| SEAT | Leon 5DR | SE Ecomotive 1.6 TDI 110 |
Diesel |
1.6 |
110 |
85.6 |
63.2 |
-26.20% |
| Citroen | DS3 | e-HDi Airdream DSport Plus |
Diesel |
1.6 |
115 |
74.4 |
63 |
-15.30% |
| MINI | Cooper | D |
Diesel |
1.5 |
114 |
80.7 |
62.6 |
-22.40% |
| Skoda | Octavia | Greenline III TDi CR |
Diesel |
1.6 |
110 |
88.3 |
61.9 |
-29.90% |
| Honda | Civic | i-DTEC EX+ |
Diesel |
1.6 |
118 |
72.4 |
61.8 |
-14.60% |
| SEAT | Leon ST | SE Ecomotive 1.6 TDI 110 |
Diesel |
1.6 |
110 |
85.6 |
61.5 |
-28.20% |
| Peugeot | 308 | Allure BlueHDi |
Diesel |
1.6 |
120 |
88.3 |
60.8 |
-31.10% |
| Citroën | C4 Cactus | Flair BlueHDI |
Diesel |
1.6 |
100 |
83.1 |
60.1 |
-27.70% |
| Skoda | Octavia | Greenline III TDi CR |
Diesel |
1.6 |
110 |
88.3 |
59.4 |
-32.70% |
| Hyundai | i20 | SE CRDi |
Diesel |
1.4 |
90 |
68.9 |
59.4 |
-13.80% |
Least efficient vehicles tested over the past 12 months
|
Make |
Model |
Derivative |
Fuel |
Official Combined MPG |
True MPG |
Difference |
| Vauxhall | VXR8 | GTS | Petrol |
18.5 |
19.5 |
5.4% |
| Porsche | Cayenne | V8 Turbo | Petrol |
25.2 |
20.7 |
-17.9% |
| Aston Martin | V8 Vantage S | N430 | Petrol |
21.9 |
23.2 |
5.9% |
| Porsche | Macan | Turbo S-A | Petrol |
30.7 |
23.4 |
-23.8% |
| Lexus | RC-F | F Sport V8 | Petrol |
26.2 |
23.8 |
-9.2% |
| Audi | S8 | SE Executive LWB | Petrol |
29.4 |
24.7 |
-16.0% |
| Jaguar | F-Type | R | Petrol |
25.5 |
25.7 |
0.8% |
| Mitsubishi | Shogun | DI-DC LWB SG4 | Diesel |
33.2 |
26.5 |
-20.2% |
| Jaguar | F-Type | V6 | Petrol |
32.8 |
26.7 |
-18.6% |
| Subaru | WRX STi | Symetrical AWD | Petrol |
27.2 |
26.9 |
-1.1% |
What Car? editor, Jim Holder, said: “Buyers get frustrated when they can’t achieve claimed fuel economy figures. That’s because the official EU tests are carried out in a laboratory under very specific conditions that don’t reflect real-world driving. “
