MOTORING NEWS - Recent fuel price increases will see South Africans paying more for petrol and diesel and under these conditions, fuel efficiency is an increasingly important factor for budget-conscious vehicle buyers.
Industry stalwart and head of automotive at Gumtree SA, Jeff Osbourne, stresses that significant savings can be made over the lifetime of a vehicle.
"Every half litre of reduced consumption over 100km makes a big difference, especially for anyone doing serious distances," he says.
He adds that too many car buyers have misplaced priorities.
"Whatever your preference for brand or style, every purchaser should be checking out fuel economy and doing the sums in terms of the impact on their wallets over the entire ownership period, especially given the projections that the fuel price will not drop substantially any time soon."
Some of the most fuel-efficient cars currently on the market consume between 3,6 and 4,3 litres of fuel per 100km.
According to Osborne, these models are all available on Gumtree, either brand new or pre-owned.
Osborne suggested a list of four potential candidates. They are:
Renault Captur 66kW dCi Dynamique
The Captur is a very popular SUV and has gone on to capture a great chunk of the market. This eye-catching city car makes for a sensible buy, running on an average of only 3,6 litres of fuel per 100km.
Fiat 500
The stylish two-door from Fiat is extremely popular with urban dwellers. It comes equipped with City Driving mode, is easy to park and will get you 575km per tank.
SmartForTwo
Production models of this nifty two-seater has sold nearly a million worldwide. While it is more expensive than other city driving cars, it's extremely efficient at an average of 17,5km to 25km per litre, depending on the terrain and driving style.
Volkswagen Polo 1,4 TDI
As cars go, the VW Polo is widely believed to be the best all-rounder. With good looks and superb manufacturing, its dynamic engine delivers economy at an average of 4,1 litres per 100km.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
