It’s no secret that having your own personal transport is more convenient and essential as the threat brought upon by COVID-19 is still present in the country. But, with the current fuel price hike along with the shift to a more lenient Alert Level 1 status, driving within Metro Manila is like a double edge sword.
In fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) said that gasoline prices could spike to Php 100 per liter, depending on the movement of oil prices in the world market. Diesel prices, on the other hand, are also estimated to rise by more than Php 12 per liter.
Fuel efficiency is important these days
This is why having a fuel-efficient car is more important than ever as fuel prices continue to go up. With that, we listed down the top 10 most fuel-efficient cars that we’ve tested or reviewed. The fuel economy numbers we got for every car were taken from our in-city and highway tests. Take note that the fuel efficiency rating listed in this article is dependent on the current traffic situation during the period we conducted the test drive.
That said, in-city fuel economy numbers are dependent on whether the traffic is light, moderate, or heavy. On the open highway, we make it a point as much as possible to cruise at an average speed of 90 km/h. Again, the average speed varies depending on the current traffic situation during our test. Check out our Car Reviews section for more detailed numbers when it comes to fuel economy ratings.
Here are the most fuel-efficient cars we’ve driven so far.
Honda City Sedan RS
Honda's fifth-gen model of the City delivered
The Honda City Sedan RS took the top spot when it comes to the most fuel-efficient cars we’ve driven. During our week-long test drive, the City Sedan RS posted 16.5 km/l to and from Makati to Quezon City while driving at an average speed of 40 km/h.
City traffic was relatively light during the time of our test drive. On the open highway, Honda’s subcompact sedan continued to deliver impressive fuel economy as it registered 20.6 km/l.
As such, the 2021 Honda City Sedan RS comes with a combined fuel efficiency rating of 18.6 km/l, clinching the most fuel-efficient car on our list.
Kia Soluto
One of Kia Philippines' best-selling units
The Kia Soluto closely followed the City Sedan RS when it comes to fuel efficiency. Similar to the City RS, Kia’s subcompact sedan posted impressive fuel eco numbers. In the city, it yielded 16.7 km/l while it posted 20 km/l on the highway.
Kia Sportage GT Line
Another Kia entry on this list
Coming in at third spot is the Kia Sportage GT Line, which is powered by a 2.0-liter CRDI diesel engine that puts out 183 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The city and highway traffic were relatively light when we drove the Sportage due to the current COVID-19 restrictions at that time. The Sportage’s sedan-like fuel eco numbers are impressive at 16 km/l in the city, and 18.5 km/l on the highway.
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
It now boasts a sleeker front end
Mitsubishi Philippines’ claim about the Mirage G4’s fuel economy stood its ground when we reviewed it. It posted notable numbers during the duration of our test drive. In the city, it registered 12.5 km/l while on the open highway it yielded 21.6 km/l.
Honda CR-V SX
Diesel-powered Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V SX bags the fifth spot in the most fuel-efficient cars we’ve reviewed. It is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged DOHC diesel engine that puts out 118 hp and 300 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. This setup allowed the CR-V SX to record 11 km/l in the city, and 22 km/l on the highway.
>>> Find a good Honda CR-V 2003 at the best price
Check out the table below for the top 10 most fuel-efficient cars we’ve driven so far.
Most Fuel Efficient Cars in the Philippines | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
RANK | CAR | CITY (km/l) | HIGHWAY (km/l) | COMBINED (km/l) |
1 | Honda City Sedan RS | 16.5 | 20.6 | 18.6 |
2 | Kia Soluto | 16.7 | 20 | 18.4 |
3 | Kia Sportage (Diesel) | 16 | 18.5 | 17.3 |
4 | Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | 12.5 | 21.6 | 17.1 |
5 | Honda CR-V SX (Diesel) | 11 | 22 | 16.5 |
6 | Kia Seltos | 11.3 | 21.2 | 16.3 |
7 | Toyota Hilux G | 15 | 17.4 | 16.2 |
8 | Toyota Vios G | 12.2 | 19.9 | 16.1 |
9 | Honda City Sedan V | 12.1 | 19.5 | 15.8 |
10 | Suzuki Vitara AllGrip | 10.1 | 21.4 | 15.8 |
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