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Fuel economy has become the most important criteria for a
quarter of drivers when choosing a car, according to new
research by AA Cars
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With fuel prices still painfully high and people trying to
find ways to cope with the rising price of living, nearly nine
out of 10 (87%) of drivers list fuel economy among the top
three things they want in a car
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A third of those placing fuel efficiency in their top three
criteria would not have done so if buying a car a year
ago
Sales of the most fuel-efficient cars could be set for a boost
after new research by AA Cars revealed that
almost nine out of 10 of drivers now put fuel economy among their
top three priorities when buying a car.1
The findings come after separate AA data recorded that average
petrol prices are 26% higher than a year ago, at 170.60p a litre,
while the average cost of diesel is 182.58p, 33% more than the
same month in 20212. The rising cost of living may
also be pushing people to favour cars which will cost them less
to run.
The AA Cars poll of more than 15,000 drivers found that a quarter
(24%) rank good fuel economy as the most
important thing they would look for in a car if they were to buy
one this year, with 87% listing it among their
top three criteria.
A mere 9% of drivers said they would not rank fuel efficiency as
a priority, while 4% said it was irrelevant because they only
want to buy an Electric Vehicle.
Of those who listed fuel economy among their top three priorities
for a new car, a third (31%) said they would not have ranked it
as highly this time last year, suggesting that the surging cost
of fuel in 2022 has had a major impact on people’s car-buying
preferences.
The high cost of fuel is also contributing to stronger sales of
Electric Vehicles. Battery EVs made up 13.9% of all new car sales
in the first seven months of 20223, while sales of
second-hand EVs more than doubled in the first quarter of the
year4.
AA Cars’ tips on maximising your
car's fuel efficiency
- Miles per gallon — or MPG — is the best indicator of how fuel
efficient a car is. It shows how many miles you can drive on a
gallon of fuel; the higher the MPG, the less fuel is consumed as
you drive.
- There is a caveat to those MPG figures, though. They are
based on laboratory testing, so the number of miles you will
actually achieve per gallon may differ to the manufacturer's
official figures. Nevertheless MPG figures can be a very useful
indicator when comparing vehicles.
- Driving your car more efficiently can also save you a lot of
money in fuel, and will also cause less wear and tear to your
car, reducing your maintenance costs over time. For
instance, with manual cars, shifting up a gear earlier can reduce
fuel usage as the engine won’t be running at higher revs.
However, be sure not to labour the engine as that can cause
long-term damage.
- Think ahead when driving. By anticipating what other road
users are likely to do and situations down the road, you should
be able to accelerate and brake more smoothly and safely, which
can keep fuel usage down.
- Make sure your car isn’t carrying any excess weight, as it
will mean the engine will have to work harder, and if the engine
works harder, it’ll use more fuel. Only carry essentials for the
journey in the car – don’t fill your boot with clutter.
James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, has provided a selection of
some of the top 10 most fuel-efficient
cars you can buy for less than £6,000.
James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars
comments: “The high cost of petrol and diesel
has made many drivers reconsider what they want most in a car,
and fuel economy has shot up to the top of many people’s
wishlists.
“This means that some of the most attractive models right now are
those with the best fuel economy. Anyone looking for a car to buy
should compare the miles per gallon offered by different models,
to get a sense of how efficient each is compared to its
rivals.
“People concerned about the price of fuel may also be considering
an EV as an alternative. While EVs typically cost more to buy
than an equivalent petrol or diesel model, they come with the
benefit of lower running costs. The savings are even bigger when
fuel prices are as high as they are right now.
“For drivers who are keen to ditch the pump but unsure about
buying an EV, leasing one can be a great way to go electric
without the long-term commitment of owning an EV.
“Leasing products, such as the AA Lease give you peace of
mind that you will be paying a fixed price each month. Some also
offer add-ons which can protect drivers against unexpected life
events, allowing the car to be handed back without penalty in
certain circumstances.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editor
1Yonder received 15,057 responses from AA members to
its online poll between July 12 and July 19 2022. Yonder is a
member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
2AA July 2022 fuel
prices.
3SMMT new car registrations
data, July 2022.
4SMMT used car data.
