The most fuel-efficient cars, SUVs, and utes in Australia

Fuel economy claim vs real-world usage

It's important to note that the fuel consumption figures listed in this article are taken from a laboratory test declared to government authorities by the manufacturer. That means the number you see here may not reflect what you will actually achieve in the real world, but it does allow you to compare different vehicles based on the same testing protocol.

To aid clarity around this issue, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has a Real World Testing Program which puts cars through a standardised driving loop to evaluate a vehicle's "real world" fuel usage compared to its claim.

Since testing started in 2023, the AAA testing team has evaluated 131 internal combustion (ICE) and hybrid cars, vans and utes, finding 76 per cent used more fuel on-road than indicated by laboratory tests. Consider the AAA's Real World Testing Program results before buying a new car to make an informed decision.

More: Does your SUV, ute or car match its fuel claims?

Most fuel-efficient light cars

The smaller the car, the more fuel-efficient is a general rule of the thumb when it comes to picking the most frugal car. The Toyota Yaris, which is now an entirely hybrid line-up is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on sale today, with a claimed fuel economy of just 3.3L/100km thanks to its small hybrid powertrain.

The Suzuki Swift and MG3 are behind at 3.8L and 4.3L/100km respectively, but these are still two very efficient hybrid city cars to consider.

All three cost less than $34,000 drive-away in Victoria, so they are among the most affordable new cars available today.

More: Search and compare budget cars priced below $35,000 drive-away

Most fuel-efficient small cars

While small cars aren’t as popular as they have been in the past, they remain some of the best options if you’re looking for fuel efficiency on a budget while retaining more space. The Hyundai i30 sedan and Toyota Corolla sedan are both available with hybrid powertrains and both can be bought for less than $40,000.

The Honda Civic e:HEV is more expensive but it’s also very efficient and brings a level of refinement to the small car segment usually reserved for bigger vehicles.

Most fuel-efficient family cars

Size can be deceiving at times and the Toyota Camry is a prime example of the benefits of hybrid technology. Despite being a genuine family-friendly sedan, the Camry uses just 4.0L/100km, not much more than the much smaller Suzuki Swift mild hybrid, and with space on its side there's no wonder it remains a popular choice with ride-share operators.

Even the Honda Accord e:HEV manages the same return as the MG3, while the plush Lexus ES demonstrates that you can still have a luxurious driving experience without using lots of fuel.

Most fuel-efficient light SUVs

The Toyota Yaris does it again – only this time it’s the high-riding Toyota Yaris Cross that’s the most fuel-efficient compact SUV. While it shares the same powertrain as the hatchback, the extra height impacts fuel economy.

If you like the sound of that but want something more premium, you can opt for the similarly powered but more luxurious Lexus LBX, which also shares the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid powertrain.

There’s another entry here for Honda in the form of the diminutive HR-V SUV that's also powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine.

Most fuel-efficient small SUVs

Across the small SUV segment there are plenty of choices, but the model with the lowest claimed fuel economy figure is the Hyundai Kona Hybrid at 3.9L/100km – just a fraction ahead of the Toyota C-HR and Toyota Corolla Cross pair. Proving its popularity, Hyundai Kona hybrid sales made up 45 per cent of its overall sales in 2025, in a year where it placed seventh out of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in Australia.

This year may prove more challenging for the Kona with a growing number of hybrid options in this segment, some already on sale and others coming soon, including the Chery Tiggo 4, GWM Haval Jolion, upcoming Kia Seltos, Lexus UX300h, MG ZS and Nissan Qashqai.

More: Australia's best, most affordable SUVs

Most fuel-efficient medium SUVs

Highlighting the choice available to Australian car buyers in the top-selling medium SUV segment are the three most economical cars – a French SUV/hatch crossover, the most popular SUV in the country and a luxury European offering.

The Peugeot 408 GT is an unconventional vehicle, at a considered price point, but its potential to use just 4.5L/100km, thanks to its 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged mild-hybrid powertrain, makes it a consideration for anyone looking for fuel-sipping transport.

The Toyota RAV4 was last year's best-selling SUV and has a claimed fuel consumpion of 4.7L/100km. The brand is set to launch a highly anticipated new RAV4 range by the middle of 2026, which will include both an updated hybrid powertrain and, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid option.

The Audi Q5 is one of the German prestige brand’s latest models and shows there is still life in the turbo-diesel engine, even as hybrids increase in popularity.

More: Australia's safest medium SUVs

Most fuel-efficient 7-seat large SUVs

Large SUVs are in hot demand with families and caravan owners, thanks to their flexibility, but they haven't always been known for their efficiency – until recently. 

Mazda has created an all-new turbocharged, mild-hybrid six-cylinder diesel that can use a surprisingly small amount of fuel to move such a big SUV.

The latest Hyundai Santa Fe is part of the new wave of hybrid SUVs which are replacing diesel powertrains. Using just 0.4L/100km more than the Mazda CX-80’s mild-hybrid diesel is just one reason why the petrol-electric Santa Fe is so popular.

Most fuel-efficient 4x4 diesel utes

Three of the best-driving 4x4 diesel dual-cab utes in Australia also lay claim to the fuel efficiency crown, with the newly launched Toyota HiLux SR5 (with manual gearbox) currently the most fuel-efficient at 7.1L/100km.

The auto-only Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok share the same turbo-diesel engine, with both returning a fuel economy figure of 7.2L/100km.

Most fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid cars

For this guide to the most fuel-efficient cars in Australia, we have considered the fuel economy figures for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) separately. These can be remarkably low on paper, with some claiming as little as 0.7 litres per 100km, however, these figures can be misleading, as they factor in the full range of the battery and a best-case scenario for hybrid driving – which can be difficult to achieve in day-to-day driving.

The return you achieve will depend primarily on how you use it. For example, if you are diligent and charge the battery consistently, (either at home or at a dedicated EV charging station), start each trip with a full battery and drive within the electric-only driving range limit, you will optimise your fuel use. But, if you don’t charge or take a longer trip and deplete the battery, then the relatively small internal combustion engine will need to work harder and use more fuel.

PHEVs are increasing in popularity in Australia as they are found in a greater variety of makes and models and their flexible powertrains appeal to drivers looking to carry out a combination of urban and longer drives. Three recent entrants to market lay claim to be the most fuel-efficient and they are all SUVs.

The MG HS Super Hybrid has a claimed fuel usage of 0.7L/100km, the Haval H6 GT PHEV is 0.8L/100km and the Leapmotor C10 REEV has a claimed consumption of 0.9L/100km. 

Top 5 tips for reducing fuel consumption

Whether you drive a petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or even an electric car, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption. Here are some tips to help you save fuel every time you drive.

1. Be smooth: As simple as it sounds, driving more smoothly (with less hard acceleration), coasting where possible and braking carefully can help improve your fuel economy dramatically.
2. Keep your car in top condition: Running your tyre pressures too low creates more drag which requires more fuel to be used. The same goes for an engine that is improperly maintained. So, make sure you service your car regularly to ensure it is in the best, most efficient condition. Using the right fuel is another major help, with higher-octane fuel able to burn more efficiently.
3. Reduce weight and drag: The more weight you have to move and the bigger the vehicle, the harder the engine has to work to push through the air. Removing unnecessary weight and external drag creators, such as roof racks, will help make your car slipperier through the air and save you fuel. This is especially relevant for electric vehicles, where drag from roof racks and storage boxes can cut the driving range by up to 25 per cent when loaded. 
4. Don’t be idle: Automatic engine idle-stop systems ('stop-start') have been proven to save a meaningful amount of fuel over the life of a car. Evaluations of the systems carried out in the US in 2023 found that the savings could be anywhere between 7.27 and 26.4 per cent depending on vehicle type and test. 
5. Carefully plan your trip: The other way to avoid idling is to plan your trip and use the live traffic data to avoid congestion and take a potentially longer but more efficient route.