Real MPG: most economical used cars (2024)

0-62mph: 8.5 sec

MPG/range: 53.3mpg

CO2 emissions: 121g/km

Seats: 5

Boot: 600 litres

Insurance group: 21P

WLTP MPG64.8mpg | Real MPG Average57.9mpg | Town50.5mpg | Motorway52.1mpg | Rural72.6mpg

There's now an updated Skoda Octavia, but the previous car is still a compelling family car choice if you're buying secondhand. As well as being particularly frugal when fitted with the 2.0 TDI 115 engine, the Octaviahas a comfy ride and a good driving position. Plus, itoffersa spacious interior anda massive boot,despite its saloon-like proportions.

However, it performed poorly in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, with more than half of respondents reporting a problem with their Octavia.

Read our full used Skoda Octavia review

NEDC MPG65.7mpg | Real MPG Average57.8mpg | Town47.0mpg | Motorway53.3mpg | Rural73.5mpg

The Celerio feels a little dated on the inside compared with the best used small cars, but it's a great choice if you're looking to maximise value for money. It's very affordable as a used buy, too, andit should cost you pennies to run, as our Real MPG data demonstrates.

On the move, theCelerio feels composed and secure, and it's surprisingly spacious in both the front and rear for such a little car.

Read our full used Suzuki Celerio review

0-62mph: 9.7 sec

MPG/range: 52.3mpg

CO2 emissions: 123g/km

Seats: 5

Boot: 422 litres

Insurance group: 19E

NEDC MPG83.1mpg | Real MPG Average56.3mpg | Town46.4mpg | Motorway50.7mpg | Rural73.7mpg

When it launched in 2015, this generation of Astra was praised for being much better all-round than the 2009-2015 Vauxhall Astrait replaced. It's generallymuch more pleasantto drive (although it can be rather jiggly around town), and the 109bhp diesel engine we're looking at hereshould help keep running costs to a minimum.

Unfortunately, like the Skoda Octavia, the Astra is let downby a less-than-perfect reliability record – an important considerationwhen you're choosing a used car.

Read our full used Vauxhall Astrareview

WLTP MPG50.7mpg | Real MPG Average56.0mpg | Town44.3mpg | Motorway51.9mpg | Rural72.2mpg

The VW Up is undoubtedly a small car, but one of its greatest strengths is that it doesn't feel like one when you're inside. There's oodles of space in the front (thanks in part to its boxy shape), and it feels much more grown-up to drive than its diminutive proportions would suggest.

As well as the frugal 59bhp engine in this version, the Up was available with a variety of more powerful 1.0-litre petrol engines at various points in its 11-year life, and there was even an all-electric model, called the Volkswagen e-Up.

Read our full used Volkswagen Upreview

NEDC MPG78.5mpg | Real MPG Average56.0mpg | Town46.3mpg | Motorway50.9mpg | Rural71.7mpg

The previous-generation Seat Leon is one of the best used family cars you can buy. It's great to drive, with sporty handling and a comfortable ride, and there's loads of room inside for people as well as stuff.

What's more, according to our Reliability Survey, the 2013-2020 Leon is one of the most reliable family cars around, and it isfar less prone to faults than the current Seat Leon.

Read our full used Seat Leonreview

NEDC MPG62.7mpg | Real MPG Average55.2mpg | Town46.6mpg | Motorway49.9mpg | Rural70.4mpg

While the Baleno was available with two engines when new, the109bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol sold better and so is in more plentiful supply on the used market.

Fortunately, it offers peppy performance as well as good fuel economy. However, the rest of the driving experience is less appealing; the steering doesn't give much feedback, and the Baleno'ssoft ride means itleans quite a lot in corners. Interior space is impressive, though.

Read our full used Suzuki Baleno review

NEDC MPG62.8mpg | Real MPG Average55.2mpg | Town45.9mpg | Motorway50.0mpg | Rural70.6mpg

You may be thinking the Skoda Citigo looks familiar – and you'd be right. It shares its underpinnings (and quite a few body panels) with the Volkswagen Up and, like its VW sibling, it's a brilliantsmall car. It's economical andfairly reliable, and some versions sit in insurance group 1, making the Citigo a good choice for new drivers.

The ace up the Citigo's sleeve, is the price; it usually undercuts the Up like-for-like, making it a very smart secondhand buy.

Read our full used Skoda Citigoreview

NEDC MPG46.3mpg | Real MPG Average55.2mpg | Town50.0mpg | Motorway48.8mpg | Rural69.1mpg

The Renault Kadjar is based on the hugely popular2014-2021 Nissan Qashqai, yet it's shared little of its sibling's sales success. There's quite a lot to like about it, though.

The Kadjar is spacious by class standards– it has a bigger boot than the Qashqai– and it's fairly comfy, as long as you avoid cars fitted with 19in wheels. It's worth noting that Renault'sreliability record isn't the best.

Read our full used Renault Kadjarreview

WLTP MPG51.5mpg | Real MPG Average54.8mpg | Town45.8mpg | Motorway49.5mpg | Rural70.4mpg

The previous-generation Skoda Superb Estate scooped our Estate Car of the Year awardeight years in a row, because it nails the estate car brief almost perfectly.

Its enormous bootis easy to access and is a practical shape, allowing ittoswallowsignificantly more than any of its main rivals, and there's loads of interior space, too.The real-world fuel economy of the2.0 TDI 150 diesel engine is the icing on the cake.

Read our full used Skoda Superb Estatereview

NEDCMPG78.5mpg | Real MPG Average53.7mpg | Town47.7mpg | Motorway47.0mpg | Rural69.2mpg

It may not be anywhere nearas popular as it was in its heyday, but the last of the Ford Mondeos still has a lot to offer the used executive car buyer. It's large and pretty spacious, and all but the hybrid version get a useful hatchback-style tailgate.

The Mondeo also handles well, and almost all variants are pretty comfortable.

Read our full used Ford Mondeo review

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