Cheapest cars to run
Figures updated
The Volkswagen Polo (diesel) is the cheapest car to fuel of the 74 petrol, hybrid and diesel cars we cover: about £910 a year for 7,500 miles. Electric cars charged at home cost less again: about £438 to £548 a year for the same miles.
Costs use each model's typical official economy and current prices (petrol 171.4p a litre, diesel 198.4p, home electricity 26.3p per kWh; today's UK average). Every car registered since April 2017 pays the same £200 a year car tax (2026/27), so tax doesn't change the order.
The 20 cheapest petrol, hybrid and diesel cars to run
| # | Car | A year | Cheapest version | New from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen PoloSupermini | £910 | diesel | £22,310 |
| 2 | Honda JazzSupermini | £931 | petrol | £28,475 |
| 3 | Renault ClioSupermini | £931 | petrol | £20,995 |
| 4 | Toyota YarisSupermini | £931 | petrol | £23,845 |
| 5 | Audi A1Supermini | £934 | diesel | – |
| 6 | Peugeot 208Supermini | £945 | diesel | £20,565 |
| 7 | Fiat 600Small SUV | £952 | petrol | £23,995 |
| 8 | Toyota CorollaFamily hatchback | £972 | petrol | £30,845 |
| 9 | Renault CapturSmall SUV | £992 | petrol | £22,495 |
| 10 | Toyota C-HRSmall SUV | £992 | petrol | £31,695 |
| 11 | Toyota AygoCity car | £1,015 | petrol | £21,645 |
| 12 | Vauxhall CorsaSupermini | £1,015 | petrol | £20,590 |
| 13 | Vauxhall FronteraSmall SUV | £1,015 | petrol | £22,820 |
| 14 | Audi A4Executive car | £1,030 | diesel | – |
| 15 | Ford FocusFamily hatchback | £1,054 | diesel | – |
| 16 | Skoda FabiaSupermini | £1,066 | petrol | £21,070 |
| 17 | Skoda OctaviaFamily hatchback | £1,074 | diesel | £28,505 |
| 18 | Fiat 500City car | £1,078 | petrol | £18,995 |
| 19 | Vauxhall MokkaSmall SUV | £1,084 | petrol | £26,195 |
| 20 | Ford FiestaSupermini | £1,096 | petrol | – |
Electric cars: cheapest of all if you charge at home
Charged at home at 26.3p per kWh, these cost about £438 to £548 a year for 7,500 miles, allowing 10% lost in charging. On an overnight EV tariff it can be under half that; relying on public rapid chargers can cost more than petrol. Official efficiency is published only to the nearest mile per kWh, so we don't rank them against each other.
- Audi A6about £548
- Fiat 500about £438
- Hyundai Insterabout £548
- Kia EV3about £548
- MG MG4about £548
- MINI Countrymanabout £438
- MINI Hatchabout £438
- Peugeot 2008about £548
- Peugeot 208about £548
- Peugeot 3008about £548
- Renault 5about £548
- Skoda Elroqabout £548
- Tesla Model Yabout £548
- Vauxhall Astraabout £548
- Vauxhall Corsaabout £548
- Vauxhall Fronteraabout £548
- Vauxhall Mokkaabout £548
- Volvo EX30about £548
Cheapest to fuel in each class
- SuperminiVolkswagen Polo£910 a year (diesel)
- Small SUVFiat 600£952 a year (petrol)
- Family hatchbackToyota Corolla£972 a year (petrol)
- City carToyota Aygo£1,015 a year (petrol)
- Executive carAudi A4£1,030 a year (diesel)
- MPV / people carrierVolkswagen Touran£1,102 a year (diesel)
- Family SUVFord Kuga£1,117 a year (petrol)
- Large family carVolkswagen Passat£1,160 a year (petrol)
- Large SUVMercedes-Benz GLC£1,221 a year (diesel)
Want your own figures? The fuel cost calculator and EV charging cost calculator take your mileage and prices. See also the cars with the biggest boots.
Frequently asked questions
›What is the cheapest petrol or diesel car to run?
Of the cars we cover, the Volkswagen Polo (diesel): about £910 a year in fuel at 7,500 miles, using its official economy and current UK prices.
›Is an electric car cheaper to run?
Charged at home, yes: the electric cars we cover cost about £438 to £548 a year to charge at 7,500 miles on a standard tariff, less than any petrol or diesel car. Relying on public rapid chargers can make an electric car dearer to run than petrol.
›How do you work out running costs?
From each model's typical official (WLTP where available) economy, 7,500 miles a year and current UK average prices. Real-world economy is usually 10–15% worse for every car, so the order holds even if the totals are a little low. Insurance, servicing and depreciation aren't included.
Sources: Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright (VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy); UK average fuel prices (today's UK average); manufacturers' UK price lists.