Motoring3.12.2024

Most fuel-efficient cars in South Africa

By Myles Illidge

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) dominate in terms of fuel efficiency thanks to their electric motors, a MyBroadband analysis has found.

However, this comes with a caveat. These vehicles achieve maximum fuel efficiency when their supplementary batteries are charged.

When the batteries are being recharged, they can no longer supplement driving power from their electric motors, making some relatively inefficient, depending on their engine specifications.

MyBroadband searched for the 10 most fuel-efficient cars in South Africa and found all of them to be PHEVs. The cheapest and most fuel-efficient option starts at R1,050,000.

This spot belongs to BMW’s X1 xDrive30e, which can achieve a fuel efficiency figure of 1.1ℓ/100km with its electric motors. However, BMW notes that this increases to 6.8ℓ/100km when the battery is discharged.

The BMW X1 xDrive30e produces 240kW and 477Nm and it is one of three BMWs to make the list.

Lexus’ RX 450h+ and NX 450h+ have similar fuel efficiency and power specs, with only price and electric range separating the two.

Both achieve a fuel efficiency figure as low as 1.3ℓ/100km and produce 227kW of power.

The RX 450h+ starts at R1,645,600 and has a pure electric range of 66.5km, while the NX 450h+ costs R1,336,200 and has an electric range of 60km.

Two Volvos — the XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Plus Dark and the XC90 T8 Recharge AWD Dark — also made the list.

The XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Plus Dark costs R1,314,000 and boasts a fuel efficiency of 1.6ℓ/100km when its battery is charged. It produces 340kW and 709Nm and has a pure electric range of 81km.

The larger XC90 T8 Recharge AWD Dark costs R1,808,000 and achieves a fuel efficiency figure of 1.8ℓ/100km. It can travel up to 77km purely on its electric motor.

The XC90 T8 Recharge AWD Dark produces power figures similar to those of its smaller sibling.

The two other BMWs on the list are the BMW M5 and the X5 xDrive50e, which cost R2,690,000 and R1,880,000, respectively.

The former achieves a fuel efficiency of 1.7ℓ/100km with the help of its electric motors. Combined, its electric and petrol motors produce 430kW and 750Nm. It can travel up to 68km purely on battery power.

The BMW X5 xDrive50e has the best pure electric range of the lot at up to 110km. It achieves a fuel efficiency of 1.9ℓ/100km when it can use its electric motors and produces combined power figures of 230kW and 450Nm.

Below are the ten most fuel-efficient vehicles you can buy in South Africa, along with their pricing and specs. All models are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.