5 Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles CAR Magazine Tested in 2025

At CAR magazine, we take each vehicle we road test on a standardised mixed-use (urban and motorway) 100 km fuel run to gauge its ‘real-world’ fuel economy. We’ve rounded up the five most fuel-efficient vehicles we tested in 2025. 

5. Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend MT: 5.43 L/100 km (5.5 L/100 km claimed)

Honda Amaze front

Image: Peet Mocke

The Honda Amaze, which we tested for the July issue, bested its claimed fuel consumption by 0.07 L/100 km. The Amaze is powered by a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder i-VTEC petrol engine producing 66 kW and 110 N.m. The four-pot powering the model we tested was coupled with a five-speed manual transmission.

4. Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI Style DSG: 5.20 L/100 km (5.6 L/100 km claimed)

VW T-Cross

Image: Peet Mocke

The Volkswagen T-Cross Style returned 5.2 L/100 km on our mixed-use fuel route; 0.4 L/100 km less than VW’s claim. The updated T-Cross also claimed a podium spot in our 2025 SUV Shootout. The T-Cross employs a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which, in Style spec, produces 85 kW and 200 N.m, delivered to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

3. Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 CSH HEV Elite: 4.90 L/100 km (5.4 L/100 km claimed)

Chery Tiggo Cross hybrid

Image: Peet Mocke

Chery’s Tiggo Cross CSH (Chery Super Hybrid) recorded an average fuel consumption of 4.9 L/100 km on our fuel route; 0.5 L/100 km less than the Chinese automaker’s claim. The Tiggo Cross CSH’ hybrid system pairs an electric motor, fed by a 1.83 kWh battery, with a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. The combined system output is 150 kW and 310 N.m, sent to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission.

2. Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX MT: 4.87 L/100 km (4.4 L/100 km claimed)

2025 Suzuki Swift rear

Image: Peet Mocke

One of the highest-scoring vehicles tested by CAR magazine in 2025 and our car of choice in the ‘Budget Car’ category at our 2025 Top 12 Best Buys awards, the Suzuki Swift returned 4.87 L/100 km on our standardised fuel route. Despite the Swift being 0.47 L/100 km less efficient than Suzuki’s claim, it was the second most fuel-efficient vehicle tested by CAR magazine in 2025. The new Swift featured in the March 2025 issue of CAR magazine. The Swift employs a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 60 kW and 112 N.m. The model we tested delivered power to its front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

1. Jaecoo J7 1.5T SHS PHEV: 4.60 L/100 km (4.7 L/100 km claimed)

2025 Jaecoo J7 SHS front

Image: CAR Magazine

Despite being the most powerful car here, the Jaecoo J7 plug-in hybrid, which was tested in the July 2025 issue of CAR magazine, was the most fuel-efficient vehicle tested by CAR magazine in 2025. The J7 SHS PHEV combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with a single electric motor, fed by an 18.3 kWh battery. The PHEV system produces a combined 225 kW and 525 N.m of torque.

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The post 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles CAR Magazine Tested in 2025 appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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