Ask an expert


mattuk

Hi,
I commute 140km a day to work, 5 days a week and am looking for a more economical car. Most of the driving is done at 100km/h.
Do the cc rating of cars affect the level of revs and therefore the fuel efficiency?
I am currently driving a 1992 2l Toyota vista and getting 14km/l.
I'm thinking about:
Toyota Corolla 1.5P WAGON 5DR 5M 2009 at $12,000
Honda Civic Hybrid S 2009 1339cc at $16,000
Holden Barina SPARK CDX MANUAL 2011 1200cc at $12,000.
However I am open to any advice or recommendations.

Anon

The engine RPM when travelling at motorway speed limit has more to do with the combination of engine size (cc), gear ratios, differential ratio and wheel size.

If you are looking for good fuel economy you can start by looking at the vehicle's claimed fuel consumption figures.

But at 14km/L you are doing really well already.

Before we proceed, please advise what type of vehicle you are looking for. All three vehicles you mentioned are different; wagon, sedan and small hatchback. Also, is your budget $16,000?

mattuk

Thanks.
I'm not too fussed on the type of car, just really trying to minimise the cost of getting to and from work without adding extra travelling time to the journey.
Ideally I'm looking around the $10,000 - $12,000 mark.

Anon

The Suzuki Swift 1.4L or 1.5L are worth considering as they offer frugal fuel economy as well as a reputation for reliability and are available in your price range. You are already doing good fuel economy with the current car (7.14L/100km) so your gains will be minimal but you will be driving a newer vehicle that should have less mileage than your current car.

If you are looking for the best fuel consumption you can look at vehicles like the 2009 Mini Cooper 1.6L diesel or the 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.6L diesel as they offer some of the best fuel economy around; but you would need to relook at the budget.

mattuk

Thanks a lot for the help. Much appreciated.