Not sold on hybrids, plug-in hybrids or EVs? You’re not alone. While electrification dominates the new automotive landscape and discussions about fuel efficiency, there are still conventionally powered cars available that deliver impressive economy. We’ve rounded up the 10 most fuel efficient new petrol and diesel vehicles on sale in Australia for buyers who prefer to avoid the charging stations.

1. Fiat 500 Dolcevita: 4.8L/100km

2016 Fiat 500 first official pics
1

Price: From $28,900 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, 51kW/102Nm, five-speed automated manual
Fuel type: 95 RON premium unleaded

It may have been around for almost 20 years in its current shape, but the Fiat 500 is actually the most fuel efficient new car you can buy today without electrification. Of course, its tiny shape helps achieve such low figures, but its 1.2-litre petrol engine helps too. Making just 51kW of power and 102Nm of torque, the 500 is no powerhouse, but offers more than enough performance for urban driving. Its 4.8L/100km combined fuel consumption rating is lower than any other pure internal combustion engined new car available. 

2. Mazda2 and Skoda Fabia 85TSI: 5.0L/100km

2023 Mazda 2
2

Price: From $27,290 plus on-road costs (Mazda2), $29,990 driveaway (Fabia)
Drivetrain: 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol with a six-speed automatic (Mazda2); 85kW/200Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (Fabia)
Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleaded (Mazda2), 95 RON premium unleaded (Fabia)

The second most fuel efficient new ICE cars in Australia are both the Mazda2 and the Skoda Fabia 85TSI, which are both rated to consume just 5.0L/100km of fuel. They take different paths in getting to that number, however, with the Mazda2 using a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine, and the Fabia a smaller, turbocharged 1.0-litre unit. Both cars provide more than ample performance, with the Skoda a bit more refined thanks to low-end torque. The Mazda runs on 91 RON regular unleaded, which is cheaper to buy than the Skoda’s 95 RON premium unleaded, but the Fabia would likely be more efficient than the Mazda2 in real life. 

3. Audi A1 35 TFSI: 5.2L/100km

1

Price: From $39,200 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
Fuel type: 95 RON premium unleaded

It’s officially no longer in production, but there is still stock around of the third most fuel efficient ICE car in Australia: the Audi A1 35 TFSI. It uses a refined and smooth turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine making 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, while a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard. The A1’s small dimensions make it nimble to drive, and the engine is quite punchy for its size. If you’re after an A1, you’d better get in quick as stock is limited.

4) Volkswagen Polo 85TSI, Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI, Skoda Kamiq 85TSI, Skoda Scala 85TSI, Kia Picanto Sport manual: 5.4L/100km

5

Price: From $19,190 plus on-road costs (Picanto Sport); $30,990 +ORC (Polo 85TSI); $33,990 driveaway (Kamiq 85TSI); $33,990 driveaway (Scala 85TSI); $34,990 +ORC (T-Cross)
Drivetrain: 62kW/122Nm 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol with a five-speed manual (Picanto); 85kW/200Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (Polo, T-Cross, Kamiq and Scala)
Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleaded (Picanto); 95 RON premium unleaded (Polo, T-Cross, Kamiq and Scala)

Consuming just 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle, the fourth most fuel efficient cars available are the Kia Picanto Sport manual, Volkswagen Polo and T-Cross, and Skoda Kamiq and Scala, all with the same ‘85TSI’ engine. While the Picanto uses a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine mated to a five-speed manual, the Volkswagen Group products use the same 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Picanto is best suited to urban conditions where its 122Nm of torque will be fine, but the 200Nm of the Volkswagen Group cars makes them quite punchy from low revs and they can do highway duties easily. 

5) Volkswagen Caddy Maxi TDI320: 5.5L/100km

1

Price: from $57,500 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 90kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel type: Diesel

A bit of a surprise entrant into the most fuel efficient non-electrified cars in Australia, the seven-seat Volkswagen Caddy Maxi uses a smooth 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine making 90kW of power and 320Nm of torque. Mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Caddy Maxi TDI320 is efficient and refined, and drives well. Diesel power is not at the top of everybody’s automotive shopping list these days, and as a result, many diesel cars are no longer available. But the Caddy Maxi proves that diesel passenger cars can be very fuel efficient, even without electrification. 

6) Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V and Mazda3 G20: 5.8L/100km

3

Price: From $28,890 plus on-road costs (Juke); $31,610 +ORC (Mazda3); $32,900 driveaway (HR-V)
Drivetrain: 84kW/180Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch (Juke); 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with a CVT automatic; 114kW/200Nm (HR-V) 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol with a six-speed automatic (Mazda3)
Fuel type: 95 RON premium unleaded (Juke); 91 RON regular unleaded (HR-V and Mazda3) 

It’s actually just gone off sale from Australia, and the next-generation model has already been revealed, but there’s still new stock available of the Nissan Juke available. Thankfully, the lovely Mazda3 isn’t going anywhere for now, same with the HR-V. The Juke uses a punchy turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard, which is torquier than the 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine in the HR-V but less powerful than the 114kW/200Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine in the Mazda3. Their 5.8L/100km combined fuel consumption is low in the small SUV and small car segments, and both cars are good to drive as well. 

7) MG 3 and Mini Cooper: 6.0L/100km

2

Price: From $20,990 driveaway (MG 3); $41,990 plus on-road costs (Cooper C Core)
Drivetrain: 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol with a CVT (MG); 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch (Mini)
Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleaded (MG); 95 RON premium unleaded (Mini)

Consuming just 6.0L/100km on the combined cycle are two light hatchbacks from brands with British heritage, though they’re actually quite different. The MG 3 starts from $20,990 driveaway and uses a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine, whereas the Mini in Cooper C form uses a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine making much more grunt. The MG drives through a CVT automatic and the Mini a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and both offer a nice feel from behind the wheel. 

8) Hyundai i30 Sedan, Kia K4 2.0L sedan, Skoda Octavia 110TSI liftback: 6.1L/100km

3

Price: From $30,000 plus on-road costs (i30), $32,090 +ORC (K4); $41,990 driveway (Octavia)
Drivetrain: 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol with a CVT (i30 and K4); 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with an eight-speed automatic (Octavia)
Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleaded (i30 and K4); 95 RON premium unleaded (Octavia)

In a big win for small-medium sedans, the Hyundai i30 Sedan, Kia K4 sedan and Skoda Octavia liftback are all quite fuel efficient as they’re rated at just 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle. The i30 and K4 use the same 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a CVT automatic, whereas the Skoda goes the lower capacity but turbocharged route. They all make the same 110kW of power, but the Octavia makes 70Nm torque and uses an eight-speed transmission – though a new mild-hybrid version of the Octavia is also now available and it uses just 5.1L/100km on the combined cycle. 

9) Hyundai Kona 2.0L and Skoda Octavia 110TSI wagon 6.2L/100km

2

Price: From $33,700 plus on-road costs (Kona); $43,990 driveaway (Octavia)
Drivetrain: 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol with a CVT (Kona); 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with an eight-speed automatic (Octavia)
Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleaded (Kona); 95 RON premium unleaded (Octavia)

Using the same drivetrains as the eighth-placed entrants (a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine in the Kona and a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine in the Octavia) are the Hyundai Kona and Skoda Octavia again, though this time in 110TSI wagon form. Both make the same 110kW of power but again, the Octavia makes 70Nm more torque at 250Nm, making it feel punchier from lower revs. On the flip side, the Hyundai can use 91 RON regular unleaded, but the Skoda must be filled with minimum 95 RON premium unleaded, increasing the cost of each fill.

10) Mazda CX-30 2.0L, Mazda CX-3, Isuzu D-Max 2.2L 4×2, Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI and Volkswagen Golf 110TSI: 6.3L/100km

5

Price: From $34,360 plus on-road costs (CX-30); $38,990 +ORC (T-Roc); $39,290 +ORC (Golf); $44,200 (D-Max)
Drivetrain: 110kW/195Nm (CX-3)/114kW/200Nm (CX-30) 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with a six-speed automatic; 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic (Golf, T-Roc); 120kW/400Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with an eight-speed automatic (D-Max)
Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleaded (CX-30); 95 RON premium unleaded (T-Roc and Golf); diesel (D-Max)

In yet another example of how different new cars can be in achieving the same fuel consumption result without electrification, two small SUVs (one naturally aspirated and one turbocharged), a small hatchback and even a ute can all be rated at 6.3L/100km on the combined cycle. The CX-3 and CX-30 share the same 2.0-litre engine and six-speed auto but the CX-3 makes 110kW/195Nm and the CX-30 114kW/200Nm. The Golf and T-Roc make 110kW/250Nm from their smaller but turbocharged engine and eight-speed auto. Meanwhile the new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel in the D-Max uses a new eight-speed automatic that makes it the most fuel efficient non-electrified new ute available today.