Fuel efficient cars
They also have a Green Vehicle Guide score of at least 3.5 stars out of 5 and an NCAP crash test score of at least 4 stars out of 5.
You can also find more detailed road tests of these cars here.
Audi A3 Sportback
The A3 shares its architecture and most of its components with the VW Golf.The five door Sportback works well as family transport if you have a couple of young kids.
The 1.8 litre TFSi Ambition, priced from $44,900, is probably the best version. The 118kW 1.8 turbo is smooth and responsive, and averages 7.5-7.6L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 179-181gkm and a 3.5/5 star rating in the Green Vehicle Guide. However 98 octane premium is recommended.
Audi's new 1.9 litre turbodiesel TDie, priced at $38,900, has 77kW of power and 250Nm of torque. It is matched with a five speed manual that's geared tall for economy. It averages just 4.5L/100km - comparable with a Prius hybrid - and produces 119gkm of CO2. It has not yet been rated by the Green Vehicle Guide.
If you want more performance, the 125kW, 2.0 litre turbo diesel, matched with a six speed sequential auto, is priced from $48,500. It averages 6L/100 km, produces 161gkm of CO2 and scores three and a half stars.
The A3 is solid, safe and refined, with taut, confident dynamics.
The big load area is almost equivalent to a compact wagon. It also has plenty of space in the back seat.
BMW 520d
BMW's frugal, clean and bargain-priced 520d, from $79,990, shows that 21st century luxury cars don't have to be about ostentation, wastefulness and excess.
All car companies make a lot of noise about fuel efficiency and low emissions. BMW is one of the few that actually demonstrates both as core engineering principles.
The 520d's kerb weight of 1520kg is 170kg less than a base model Commodore. Its 125kW 2.0 litre four cylinder turbodiesel is 20 kg lighter than its predecessor, yet it produces 10 kW more power with a fuel consumption reduction of 10 per cent.
A Toyota Corolla uses more fuel than the 520d.
If you think a 2.0 litre four cylinder diesel is going to struggle in a luxury car, think again.
The 520d is no rocket, but it can still reach 100 km/h from rest in a respectable 9.3 seconds. Matched with a six speed sequential automatic, it delivers strong, refined performance that's well suited to daily use.
And how about this? It averages 5.0L/100km on the highway, 8.1L/100km in town, scores 3.5 stars and emits just 162gkm of CO2. Outstanding for a full size luxury car.
Citroen C3
Small cars are, by their nature, usually easy on fuel but the Citroen C3 range has a couple of real fuel misers: the 83kW 1.6 litre petrol Exclusive, at $21,990 or $23,990 with a four-speed automatic, and a 66kW 1.6 litre turbodiesel/five speed manual at $23,990.
The 1.6 petrol is one of a select group of cars that scores the maximum five stars out of five in the Green Vehicle Guide. The others are the Toyota Prius, Fiat 500 and Fiat Punto.
The 1.6 goes well enough, averages 6.2L/100km running on 95 octane premium and emits 148gkm of CO2.
The 1.6 turbodiesel averages just 4.4L/100km and emits 118gkm. It scores three and a half stars.
Up front, the C3 is one of the most spacious small cars around. The back seat is suitable only for kids, though. It also has a big-car feel in the way it sits securely at highway speeds on the bitumen, untroubled by bumps and with strong grip from the Michelin tyres.
Mazda 2
Mazda's baby hatchback - the 2008 World Car of the Year - raises the standard for small cars priced under $20,000.
The base model Neo starts at $16,500, the Maxx is priced from $18,710 and the Genki costs $20,845.
All are powered by a 76kW 1.5 litre four cylinder engine. A five speed manual is standard; a four speed automatic adds $1650.
The 1.5 goes well enough, but the gearing in the five speed manual is quite tall - to maximise economy and suit European driving styles - so you need to row it along and you won't often see fifth in town. On the highway it's pulling less than 3000rpm in fifth, which is unusual in 1.5 litre small car.
The 2 is now one of the most refined small cars on the road. It's much smoother and quieter, for example, than the 1.5 litre Toyota Yaris. Occupant space is pretty good by class standards too.
It averages 6.4-6.8L/100km, running on 91 octane. CO2 emissions are 152-162gkm and it scores three and a half stars.
Fiat Ritmo
If you think sports performance is incompatiable with great fuel economy and low emissions, Fiat's new Ritmo will change your mind.
The Fiat is one of the sportiest drives in the class, especially with the new 110kW 1.4 litre turbocharged T-Jet petrol engine. It goes hard all the way from 2000-6000 rpm, the six speed manual is light and smooth, and on the right road the Ritmo is huge fun to drive.
It averages 5.8L/100km on the highway and 9.3L/100km in town, on 95 octane premium, and emits 167gkm of CO2. It scores 3.5 stars in the Green Vehicle Guide.
Fiat's local importer isn't shy about asking ambitious prices, but equipment levels are high.
The range kicks off with the Emotion T-Jet, at $29,990. A 1.9 litre turbodiesel Emotion, also with 110kW, is $33,490. It averages just 4.5L/100km on the open road and 7.6L/100km in town, producing CO2 emissions of 149gkm and also scoring 3.5 stars.
Sport variants are an extra $3000.
Hyundai i30
The Hyundai i30's main attraction is that in this class it has the cheapest turbodiesel, priced from $21,490 for the 85kW 1.6 litre/five speed manual SX CRDi.
That's $6500 cheaper than its closest diesel rivals, the Ford Focus TDCi and the 1.9 litre VW Golf TDi, both of which cost $27,990.
An SLX CRDi variant, with the same drivetrain but more equipment, is $25,990.
A four speed automatic adds $2000.
The 1.6 has the relaxed, punchy delivery of similar engines from European diesel specialists like Citroen and Peugeot.
It averages (man-auto) 4.1-4.9L/100 km on the highway and 5.7-7.9L/100km in the city. CO2 emissions are 125-159 gkm and it scores 3.5 stars.
Toyota Corolla
If it's petrol power you prefer, the Toyota Corolla is very difficult to go past. Prices start at $20,990 for the Ascent hatch and sedan, but the Conquest, priced from $25,500, is the pick for value because it includes worthwhile gear like seven airbags, cruise control and an in dash six stack CD player.
The 100kW 1.8 litre four cylinder petrol engine is matched with a standard six speed manual; a four speed auto adds $2000.
It averages 7.3-7.7L/100km, running on 91 octane - so as well as being fuel efficient, you're not paying extra for premium, like you are with most European engines. CO2 emissions are 172-180gkm and the Corolla scores four and a half stars.
The Corolla is now big enough to work well as a family car, so if you're on a tight budget but want an economical, safe, practical, no grief machine, we strongly suggest you give it a try.
Volkswagen Golf GT Sport
Volkswagen is arguably the market leader in four cylinder engine technology at present. The Golf GT Sport offers two such powerplants.
A 1.4 litre turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine is matched with a six speed manual in the GT Sport TSi, at $34,990, or a six speed automated manual DSG transmission for an extra $2300.
If diesel's your thing, how about the 2.0 litre turbocharged four in the TDi (and the A3 above), with 125kW of power and a whopping 350Nm of torque. It's also available with the six speed transmissions, at $37,490/$39,790.
Twincharger refers to the fact that the 1.4 litre petrol engine uses a supercharger and a turbocharger. It's the only production engine to employ both forms of forced induction.
The basic premise is that the most effective way to get meaningful fuel economy and emissions improvements in petrol engines is by making them smaller, then using forced induction to get your performance.
So the 1.4 TSi powers the GT to 100km/h in a handy 7.8 seconds, yet averages 7.7L/100km, on 98 octane, and emits 183gkm of CO2.
The 2.0 TDi takes 8.2 seconds, averages 6.3-6.6L/100km and emits 166-174gkm of CO2.
Both score three and a half stars in the Green Vehicle Guide.
Mercedes-Benz B Class
There are three engines in the Mercedes B Class range: a 100 kW 2.0 petrol, an 80 kW 2.0 litre turbo diesel (both from $45,800) and a 142 kW 2.0 turbo petrol, priced from $52,400.
The naturally aspirated 2.0 petrol engine offers the best combination of performance, refinement, emissions and economy.
The 2.0 litre five speed manual B200 makes the Green Vehicle Guide's top ten list with a four and a half star score. It averages 7.4L/100km, on 98 octane premium, and produces 177gkm of CO2.
The 2.0 litre is a nice fit with the optional ($2500) continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), especially around town. However despite comparable economy and emissions to the manual version, it scores three and a half stars in the Green Vehicle Guide, which we don't understand.
The 1.8 turbodiesel, with a six speed manual or CVT, averages 5.8-6.2L/100km, emits 151-164gkm of CO2 and also scores three and a half stars.
Citroen C4 Picasso
One of the most practical, versatile family wagons on the market is available with a 2.0 litre petrol/four speed automatic, at $39,990; a 2.0 litre turbo diesel/six speed auto costs $44,990. Seven seats are standard.The latter's torque laden delivery, allied with the efficiency of a six speed auto, is perfect for the people mover application. There's little reason to choose the petrol engine. It would be slower with a load of people on board, has only a four speed transmission attached to it, and uses more fuel.
The 2.0 turbodiesel averages just 5.1L/100km on the highway, 7.9L/100km in town and produces 159gkm of CO2. Not bad for a seven seater wagon. It scores three and a half stars.
Skoda Octavia
As a good value family car, the pick of the Skoda Octavia range is the 118kW 1.8 litre turbo petrol Elegance wagon, priced at $32,990, and its 103kW, 2.0 litre turbodiesel counterpart, from $35,990.
The 1.8 is available only with a six speed manual at present.
It uses direct injection and other cutting edge petrol engine technology to generate serious torque from low revs. It is also exceptionally smooth for a four cylinder. As revs climb it takes on a mildly sporty character, yet it also has a frugal thirst - an average of 7.7L/100km, on 95 octane premium, with CO2 emissions of 184gkm and a green vehicle guide rating of three and a half stars.
The 2.0 litre turbodiesel averages 5.7L/100km with a six speed manual, and 6.0L/100km with a six speed automated manual (a $2300 option), with CO2 emissions of 150-159gkm. Both versions score three and a half stars.
By Bill McKinnon, July 2008.
