Toyota’s hybrid-powered Prius C has taken the honour as the nation’s most fuel-efficient vehicle, as petrol-electric cars won five of the seven categories on offer.
Wheels Magazine examined 35 of Australia’s most fuel-efficient models, testing them over 10 weeks and a total of 17,500 kilometres.
The magazine said it drove the cars on a variety of urban roads and freeways to achieve real-world economy figures.
It divided the group of 18 diesel, 11 petrol, five petrol-electric hybrids and one electric vehicle into seven categories - light, small, medium, large, compact SUV, large SUV and sports.
Hybrid models were judged best in the light, small, compact SUV, large SUV and Sports categories while a petrol-powered BMW was named the greenest large car and turbo-petrol Skoda was best compact SUV.
Wheels said the Prius C returned fuel economy figures of 4.9 litres for every 100 kilometres and also produced ultra-low emissions.
But it also noted in its results that its testing could only examine the performance of the individual cars and could not take a “holistic” approach and examine such things as production techniques and transportation to dealers.
