Best 1.8 petrol car for MPG ?

The Quadratic Equation

Hi,

I'm looking for a good medium sized 1.8 petrol car that gives fairly good MPG (for a 1.8 petrol that is)

2005-2008 models

I've owned lots of diesels and petrols, and I know the usual pro's and cons.

I like a nice tidy, comfortable, well kept low mileage motor, and I reckon I can get good value if I go petrol this time.

I'm hoping for an average of around 38mpg +

With careful driving, I was able to get this with a petrol 1.8 406 a few years ago.

johnos1984

1.8 407?

Fizman

What's your budget?

First thing that came to mind for me was the A5 1.8 TFSI.
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201201206419581

Ardennes1944

38mpg from a 1.8? Maybe on the motorway with long gear ratios!

My 1.8 astra h (05) gets about 32 around town and i think thats very acceptable. A 1.8 civic 06+ and 159 1.8 have quite frugle engines for their size

johnos1984

Fizman wrote: »

What's your budget?

First thing that came to mind for me was the A5 1.8 TFSI.
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201201206419581

Sorry but an instand NO due to the carbuncle on the boot

Fizman

johnos1984 wrote: »

Sorry but an instand NO due to the carbuncle on the boot

Oh sweet Jesus, my apologies. Glanced at one or two pics that didn't have it in the shot. It's an abomination!

Surely you could abort it?

Ardennes1944

johnos1984 wrote: »

Sorry but an instand NO due to the carbuncle on the boot

Why the hell would you put that on an a5!

johnos1984

Fizman wrote: »

Oh sweet Jesus, my apologies. Glanced at one or two pics that didn't have it in the shot. It's an abomination!

Surely you could abort it?

Spending that much on a private deal with a premium car with anything out of place and tacky/cheap looking additions and a poorly written ad isn't a sign of someone being snobbish............it's a sign of someone being careful

So I'd rather not have it to be forced to abort it

johnos1984

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Why the hell would you put that on an a5!

It looked cool on the Corolla?

Fizman

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

38mpg from a 1.8? Maybe on the motorway with long gear ratios!

My 1.8 astra h (05) gets about 32 around town and i think thats very acceptable. A 1.8 civic 06+ and 159 1.8 have quite frugle engines for their size

Audi claim 39.8mpg combined for that 1.8 Tfsi engine. I know these are factory stats, but will certainly hit high 30s. My 2.0 Tfsi can achieve that on some runs.

johnos1984

Fizman wrote: »

Audi claim 39.8mpg combined for that 1.8 Tfsi engine. I know these are factory stats, but will certainly hit high 30s. My 2.0 Tfsi can achieve that on some runs.

I've driven them and the MPG did seem achievable but can't comment on long term ownership

Ardennes1944

Fizman wrote: »

Audi claim 39.8mpg combined for that 1.8 Tfsi engine. I know these are factory stats, but will certainly hit high 30s. My 2.0 Tfsi can achieve that on some runs.

I was aiming at lower priced cars but yeah even the vrs 2.0 tfsi is very economical at around 39/40mpg, obviously if you use the car as it should you wont see anywhere near that

ianobrien

From the on-board computer jobbie, the 1.8 Primera we had at home averaged between 42 to 45 mpg over the 100k miles we had it. Also, it was the last of the good 'un's being a '00 model.

bennya

My 2007 petrol 407 averages 36mpg, I've seen over 40mpg on long runs.

annie.t

Well I'll tell you what not to buy, W203 C200 kompressor auto - it drinks petrol.
I dont mind that much though cause i really like driving it

CJhaughey

Avensis Mk1 with the 7A-FE was a very economical 1.8
40+ easily if your were careful.

The Quadratic Equation

bennya wrote: »

My 2007 petrol 407 averages 36mpg, I've seen over 40mpg on long runs.

How do you find the realibilty, have you had many issues ? The diesel 407 seems to have a bad rep.

Matthewjohn

Volvo S40 1.8 you should get around 40 mpg from it very nice car comfortable and lots of toys for the price

dm1388

Mazda 6 reliable comfortable and average 38mpg

johndaman66

ianobrien wrote: »

From the on-board computer jobbie, the 1.8 Primera we had at home averaged between 42 to 45 mpg over the 100k miles we had it.

I would suggest them on board computers are not at all accurate...for MPG anyway at least. The one in my 1.6 Vectra was showing a readout of over 46 MPG after resetting it when I brimmed the tank. I also reset the trip computer at same time and let the tank go empty. Brimmed the tank again and noted how much fuel it took. My own calculation was a tad over 38 MPG, which is more in line with the Manufacturers quoted figure for that matter.

johndaman66

OP, I do believe there was a Mk3 Mondeo 1.8 SCI which was produced more towards the last run of the Mk3. If I recall correctly it was quoted as returning mid 40's MPG on combined run which is considerably better than the 1.8 duratec or zetec. Can't say I know much more about them besides though, they could be rare enough and command a bit of a price premium for all I know

bazz26

The last generation Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC is very good on fuel:

flyingsnail

johndaman66 wrote: »

OP, I do believe there was a Mk3 Mondeo 1.8 SCI which was produced more towards the last run of the Mk3. If I recall correctly it was quoted as returning mid 40's MPG on combined run which is considerably better than the 1.8 duratec or zetec. Can't say I know much more about them besides though, they could be rare enough and command a bit of a price premium for all I know

I believe the ford figure for the sci is 39mpg and the duratec is 37mpg. As far as I know the sci was only available in the ghia spec but I am not sure if the improvement in mpg was down to the engine or the 6 speed gearbox. The sci was also slightly more powerful at 131?? over the standard 110 and 125 duratec.

johndaman66

flyingsnail wrote: »

I believe the ford figure for the sci is 39mpg and the duratec is 37mpg. As far as I know the sci was only available in the ghia spec but I am not sure if the improvement in mpg was down to the engine or the 6 speed gearbox. The sci was also slightly more powerful at 131?? over the standard 110 and 125 duratec.

You are spot on flyingsnail. Auto Express quoted 39.2 mpg for the SCI which is only 3 mpg better than the standard 125 bhp duratec engine. I thought I saw an article quoting a figure of mid 40's once but either it was incorrect or I was dreaming!

You are correct too in that it would seem to have being available with ghia trim level only. Probably a rare enough car to go chasing after in the Republic of Ireland.

Green Hornet

I had an '06 Civic saloon (outgoing model) and it gave 42mpg on an 80 mile daily round trip. They are designed for economy with the 1.8 VTEC engine. Great car and almost as roomy as an Accord.