The most fuel-efficient cars tested on Aussie roads have been named by RACQ and the Australian Automobile Association. (Source: Getty)
Australia’s most fuel-efficient cars have been revealed, and it’s not always the smallest car that will help you save at the bowser. Motorists are continuing to face high petrol and diesel prices amid the global fuel crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
The 2022 Audi Q5 has been crowned the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid vehicle out of 152 popular cars tested on Aussie roads by RACQ and the Australian Automobile Association. The car was found to use just 5.6 litres per 100km, outperforming many smaller cars.
The 2023 Kia Sorento came in second place, with the large SUV found to use 6 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres when tested in the real world.
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It was followed by the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2022 Hyundai Tucson, along with three small cars: the 2024 Hyundai i30, 2022 Toyota Corolla, and the 2021 Mazda 3.
RACQ principal technician researcher Andrew Kirk said the findings came as Aussies faced instability at the bowser.
“When fuel prices are this high, choosing an efficient car can save drivers thousands of dollars over the life of the vehicle,” Kirk said.
“What often surprises people is that the most fuel-efficient car isn’t always the smallest — real-world testing shows how vehicles actually perform once they leave the showroom, so consumers don’t have to rely on the mandated lab result.”
The current Audi Q5 model. The The 2022 Audi Q5 has been named Australia’s most fuel efficient non-hybrid car by the RACQ and AAA. (Source: Audi)
Toyota dominated the hybrid category, taking out all five spots with the 2024 Toyota Yaris Hybrid coming in first place using 3.6 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.
For electric vehicles, the 2025 Kia EV3 was found to have the highest battery range at 537 kilometres based on the road testing.
The national price of unleaded 91 has increased 82.4 cents per litre since the week ending February 22, according to the Australian Institute of Petroleum.
The average price of diesel has gone up by 129.8 cents per litre.
The federal government halved the fuel excise at the start of this month, lowering costs by 26.3 cents per litre. However, prices are still higher than they were before the war broke out.
Here were the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid cars, across all car sizes:
2022 Audi Q5 – 5.6L/100km
2023 Kia Sorrento – 6L/100km
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe – 6.2L/100km
2022 Hyundai Tucson – 6.2L/100km
2024 Hyundai i30 – 6.2L/100km
2022 Toyota Corolla – 6.2L/100km
2021 Mazda 3 – 6.2L/100km