City Cars

The Green Car Guide to the lowest emission and most economical city cars on sale in the UK today. We list our top three most fuel-efficent urban vehicles in diesel and petrol categories.

Diesel City Cars

First place

Smart fortwo cdi 85.6 mpg

The diesel fortwo has a quality feel and the interior space for two adults is amazing. There is even more luggage space than you might think. It brings really low CO2 cars to the masses.

Second place

Fiat 500 1.3 16v Multijet Pop 76.3 mpg

Fiat has nailed the styling by combining key features of the original with a modern twist which allows it to look uniquely retro and yet bang up to date all at the same time.

Third place

Fiat Panda 1.3 MultiJet Pop 72.4 mpg

The Panda shares the 1.3-litre diesel engine with the 500. As a result, fuel economy is terrific but the extra weight of the larger Panda means that it is slightly slower.

Fourth place

 Ford Ka Zetec 1.3 TDCi 67.3 mpg

The Ka would fare better if it wasn’t for the Fiat 500 which offers more style, more performance, better specification and fuel economy for only a small increase in price.

Petrol City Cars

First place

 Fiat 500 TwinAir 70.6 mpg

Fiat has been working on its TwinAir concept for some time and the fuel-saving results are excellent. You may be thinking at this point that all this efficiency will come at the cost of performance, but you’d be wrong.

Second place

Fiat Panda 0.9 TwinAir Easy Dualogic 68.9 mpg

The award winning TwinAir engine is once again the key to excellent fuel economy. You do have to drive very, very carefully to get near the official figures but if you are willing to make the effort the rewards at the pump are great.

 Volkswagen up! Move up! 1.0 BlueMotion Technology 68.9 mpg

The new 3-cylinder engine is key to the up!'s excellent fuel economy and packaging. Its diminutive size allows the engine bay to be shortened leaving more room for people and luggage and keeping the overall weight admirably low.

Third place

 Smart for two pulse 71 bhp mhd 67.3 mpg

The smart puts our diesel contenders to shame by emitting just 97 g/km of CO2. It also has a stop/start system called micro hybrid drive (mhd) which stops the engine when the car is travelling under 5 mph and restarts it instantly when you want to go.

Hyundai i10 Blue 67.3 mpg

The i10 Blue is one of the first models to hit the market and it gives the brand its first sub-100 g/km contender. Performance is good for the class too, so there is no sense of corners having been cut to get the fuel economy.

 Kia Picanto 67.3 mpg

Kia may have dropped the bargain price but the Picanto is still a cheap car and is arguably now better value due to the big hike in quality, excellent fuel economy and 7-year warranty.

Eco Cars

Electric City Cars

First place

 Renault Twizy

The Twizy is electric, rear-wheel drive, has two seats and not much else. Even doors are on the options list and if you specify them you don't get any windows, so weather protection is minimal.

Second place

 smart fortwo coupe electric drive

 The smart fortwo coupe looks like it was designed to be an electric car in the first place, which in fact it was - fifteen years later you can actually buy one.

Third place

 Mitsubishi i-MiEV/Peugeot iOn/Citroen C-Zero

The Mitsubishi/Peugeot/Citroen trio are a welcome addition to the electric market. They feel solid and the clever design means that they are practical too, with no loss of interior space and a genuine four adult capacity.