Are These Some of the Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in Australia?

Whether you’re zipping around town or hitting the highway for a family road trip, driving a car with good fuel economy could help you save money at the petrol pump – and make a smaller impact on the planet too.¹

From petrol and diesel models to hybrid options, fuel-efficient cars are designed to go further on every litre and produce fewer carbon emissions along the way.² Additionally, the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is helping to bring more eco-friendly cars to the market and offer Australians a wider choice of new, fuel-efficient models.³

If you’re considering a less fuel-hungry ride to help reduce your vehicle running costs and emissions, read on to discover some of the most fuel-efficient cars in Australia – as well as some facts on fuel consumption and tips for checking the fuel economy of your current vehicle.

Could a fuel-efficient car save you money?

Fuel is one of the biggest running costs for your car, with the average Aussie household spending around $92 per week filling up at the bowser – or about $4,780 per year.⁴

And according to recent data, drivers in our five largest capital cities paid an average of 182.2 cents per litre (cpl) for fuel in the period January-March 2025 – an increase of 2.4cpl from the previous quarter.⁵

Also known as fuel consumption or fuel economy, fuel efficiency refers to the distance you can travel on a given quantity of fuel and is generally referenced as litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km).⁶

To calculate fuel consumption, you can divide the amount of fuel you fill up with by the number of kilometres you’ve travelled since the last top-up – then multiply by 100. For example, if you travelled 100 kilometres and used 10 litres of fuel, your fuel consumption would be 10L/100km.⁶

What is good fuel consumption?

On average, new passenger cars in Australia use 6.9L/100km, according to 2024 Climate Council research.⁷

That is among the highest in the world and has us outranking much bigger global markets such as the United States (4.2L/100km), the United Kingdom (3.6L/100km) and Europe (3.5L/100km).⁷

“Many Australians are doing it tough right now, with petrol one of the expenses causing the most financial stress for households,” says Amanda McKenzie, Climate Council CEO. “At the same time, pollution from inefficient petrol-guzzling cars is fuelling harmful climate change.”⁸

The question of what good fuel consumption looks like isn’t straightforward, however – fuel efficiency can fluctuate widely depending on factors such as the type of fuel you use, the condition of your vehicle, the way you drive and the load you’re carrying.⁸ How often and when you use your air conditioning while driving may also impact your fuel usage.⁹

A petrol-powered small or medium passenger car could be considered fuel-efficient if it uses around 6-8L/100km, according to motoring website WhichCar?¹⁰ For larger vehicles such as SUVs, good fuel consumption might typically fall around 9-11 L/100km.¹⁰

What are some of the most fuel-efficient cars in Australia?

Gone are the days when you had to choose between a petrol or a diesel car. ​Hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, are now widely available in Australia, providing more options for buyers keen to improve their car’s fuel-efficiency and reduce their environmental impact.

But how do these vehicle options compare in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions?

To help you in your decision-making, we’ve compared some of the most popular fuel-efficient cars across petrol and hybrid categories using data, information and figures from the Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide.¹¹

Hybrid vehicles

If you’re not quite ready to fully commit to an electric vehicle, then a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) could be the next most eco-friendly option. An HEV can run on both petrol or diesel and electric power and uses the energy generated through driving to recharge the battery.¹²

Hybrid vehicles are capable of using as much as 60% less fuel and emitting around 30% less CO2 than a conventional vehicle.¹³

If you prefer the combined benefits of fuel and electric power that HEV hybrids provide, here are some of the best-selling models, with fuel consumption and emissions data taken from the Green Vehicle Guide and based on combined fuel consumption (L/100km) and tailpipe CO2 emissions (g/km).¹¹

Petrol vehicles

If you plan on sticking with fuel-powered vehicles, here’s a look at how some of Australia’s top-selling petrol/diesel cars perform, with fuel consumption and emissions data taken from the Green Vehicle Guide and based on combined fuel consumption (L/100km) and tailpipe CO2 emissions (g/km).¹¹

What are some of the most fuel-efficient petrol vehicles overall?

While the fuel-powered cars listed above were flagged by the Green Vehicle Guide for their strong sales performance, the guide also identifies the petrol models below as among the best in terms of fuel efficiency alone.¹¹

What is the new national standard for fuel-efficient cars in Australia?

Fuel efficiency standards are commonly implemented around the world to encourage suppliers to sell cleaner vehicles.³⁹ Here in Australia, the federal government introduced a new vehicle efficiency standard that came into effect on 1 January 2025.³⁹ It incentivises manufacturers to supply more eco-friendly cars that use less fuel per kilometre.⁴⁰

Under the NVES, each manufacturer has a set average CO2 target for all new cars they produce, which they must meet or beat. Over time, that target is lowered and to continue to meet or beat the target, car companies must provide more choices of fuel-efficient, low or zero emissions vehicles.⁴¹

“The NVES is helping Australians cut the cost of driving a car by helping them break free from volatile petrol prices,” says Julie Delvecchio, Electric Vehicle Council CEO.⁴²

Currently, all new vehicles up to 3.5 tonne gross vehicle mass that are sold in Australia are required to display a fuel consumption label on the windscreen. The label shows the vehicle’s fuel consumption in litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (L/100km) and its emissions of CO2 in grams per kilometre (g/km).⁴³

How are fuel consumption and emissions linked?

Light vehicles – cars, 4x4s, SUVs and small commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes – account for 10% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.⁴⁴ So, if you’re really looking to reduce your carbon footprint – and if your budget allows – an electric vehicle with a fully electric motor might make a sound option.

However, there are still plenty of fuel-efficient petrol cars that could help save you money at the bowser while also reducing your vehicle emissions. A vehicle that uses more fuel will generally emit more CO2, which means a vehicle that is fuel-efficient is also likely to be more eco-friendly.⁴⁵

How fuel efficient is your current vehicle?

Whether you choose hybrid or fuel-powered, as we’ve seen, opting for a more fuel-efficient car might set you up for savings in the long run and also be beneficial for the environment. If you’re keen to find out how your ride compares, you can check its fuel efficiency online using the Green Vehicle Guide.

Buying a new car can be a big investment, so it can help to do your own research before deciding which vehicle might best suit your needs. Once you have your new set of wheels, you might like to check out Youi’s car insurance options – they’re a bit more you-shaped.

Note: Information in this article is relevant as of June 2025 and by its nature will change over time. Check relevant websites for price updates if this information is important to you.

¹ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – Top 5 tips for driving cheaper and greener
² Source: Green Vehicle Guide – Frequently Asked Questions
³ Source: Australian Government – New Vehicle Efficiency Standard
⁴ Source: Australian Automobile Association – Transport Affordability Index, December quarter 2024, March 2025
⁵ Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission – Report on the Australian petroleum market | March quarter 2025,  June 2025
⁶ Source: Drive – What does good fuel economy look like?, November 2024
⁷ Source: Climate Council – Aussies would pay less at the petrol pump with clean, efficient cars like those sold overseas, February 2024
⁸ Source: Climate Council – National fuel efficiency standard puts Australia on the road to fuel and pollution savings,  February 2024
⁹ Source: Drive – Does air conditioning really use more fuel?, July 2024
¹⁰ Source: WhichCar? – Australia's most fuel-efficient cars in 2024: Petrol, diesel and hybrid, June 2024
¹¹ Source: Australian Government – Green Vehicle Guide
¹² Source: Green Vehicle Guide – Hybrid vehicles
¹³ Source: Australian Government – 3. Implement energy savings
¹⁴ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2020 Toyota Yaris
¹⁵ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2023 Lexus LBX
¹⁶ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2024 Suzuki Swift
¹⁷ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2020 Toyota Yaris Cross
¹⁸ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2022 Toyota Corolla
¹⁹ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2023 Hyundai Kona
²⁰ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2023 Hyundai i30
²¹ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2022 Kia Niro
²² Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2024 Toyota C-HR
²³ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2024 Toyota Camry
²⁴ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2021 Toyota RAV4
²⁵ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2017 Mazda CX-5
²⁶ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2015 Mazda CX-3
²⁷ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2021 Kia Sportage
²⁸ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2017 MG ZS
²⁹ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2021 Kia Cerato Sedan
³⁰ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2023 Ford Everest
³¹ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2024 Toyota Hilux
³² Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2018 Ford Ranger
³³ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander
³⁴ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2017 Suzuki Swift
³⁵ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2017 Suzuki Ignis
³⁶ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2016 Fiat 500
³⁷ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2020 Toyota Yaris
³⁸ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – 2014 Mazda 2
³⁹ Source: Climate Council – 10 things you should know about fuel efficiency standards, February 2024
⁴⁰ Source: Australian Government – Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard—Frequently asked questions
⁴¹ Source: Australian Government – Information for drivers
⁴² Source: Electric Vehicle Council – NVES helping Aussies embrace EVs, lower-emissions vehicles, March 2025
⁴³ Source: Australian Government – Fuel consumption label
⁴⁴ Source: Climate Change Authority – Opportunities to reduce light vehicle emissions in Australia
⁴⁵ Source: Green Vehicle Guide – Vehicle emissions