Top ten credit crunch cars

Nov 20 2008 Steve Hughes

MOTORISTS can save about £350 a year in running costs if they choose the right small car from the list of top ten models costing under £10,000.

This is the finding of cost-analysis by environmental consumer website WhatGreenCar.com, which takes into account the initial cost of the car and the daily running costs in comparison to an average diesel model in the same sector.

Factors that influence running costs include economy, taxable emissions and depreciation.

TOP TEN CREDIT CRUNCH CARS

NICE MyCar (electric) CO2: 0g/km

From £8,995, Annual fuel cost saving £870, Road tax £0

With a top speed of 40mph and range of up to 60 miles the MyCar may not give you conventional performance but as one of the greenest four-wheelers its green credentials are unbeatable. Its 4kW (5.4bhp) motor is powered by deep cycle lead gel batteries and although a full recharge takes eight hours the batteries respond well to frequent top-up recharging. As with many electric vehicles MyCar offers very low motoring costs (around 2p/mile), no road tax, no congestion charge in London and zero tailpipe emissions.

Smart fortwo CO2: 103g/km

From £6,970, Annual fuel cost saving £407, Road tax £35

The fortwo mhd (mild hybrid drive) uses the new 999cc, three cylinder petrol engine providing 71bhp (max speed 91mph, 0-62mph in 13.3 seconds). The 'mild hybrid' drive refers to the use of a belt driven generator that supplies the car's electrical system and doubles up as a starter motor.

The engine features a stop-start function and the impact of this relatively simple technology is to reduce CO2 emissions from 112g/km to 103g/km. This equates to fuel economy of 65.1mpg.

VW Polo 1.4 BlueMotion CO2: 99g/km

From £10,934, Annual fuel cost saving £403, Road tax £0

The Polo BlueMotion is fitted with a 1.4-litre three-cylinder turbo diesel engine.

The gearbox has been given longer ratios and the aerodynamics have been improved. The model is also fitted with lower rolling resistance tyres and the result is economy of 74.3mpg and carbon emissions of 99g/km, which makes the Polo BlueMotion 1 road tax free. However, the 78bhp engine will still give 110mph and a 0-62mph time of 12.8 seconds.

Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 CO2: 108g/km

From £6,719, Annual fuel cost saving £367, Road tax £35.

The Aygo is available in three and five door versions, all of which are powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine. It sits in the lowest insurance group and has economy of 61.4mpg. With CO2 emissions of 108g/km (VED band B) the Aygo is also cheap to tax. However, Toyota have not compromised their reputation for reliability; they claim that the Aygo has a cumulative scheduled maintenance time to 60,000 miles of just 4.2 hours.

Fiat 500 CO2: 110g/km

From £9,535, Annual fuel cost saving £334, Road tax £35

The most fuel-efficient model in the 500 range has economy of 67.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 111g/km (VED band B). This is the first time that a car barely 3.55 metres long has been awarded a five-star crash safety rating by Euro NCAP. The Fiat 500 is available in three engine sizes of 69bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet Turbodiesel (lowest CO2).

Skoda Fabia CO2: 109g/km

From £9,716 Annual fuel cost saving £351, Road tax £35

The 1.4-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel version is the most fuel-efficient of all the engine options, with economy of 61.4mpg. This version is also the least environmentally damaging; official figures indicate CO2 emissions of 109g/km for the Greenline. In addition, the Fabia comes with the option of a 1.2, 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol engine, with a 1.9-litre diesel also available. Insurance is cheap and depreciation is low.

Fiat Panda CO2: 120g/km

From £7,015, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35

The Fiat Panda 1.1 Active ECO emits 119g/km of CO2 and returns 56.5mpg. Both the Active ECO and the Dynamic ECO cost £100 more than their equivalent non-ECO versions but reduced CO2 emissions provide an annual road-tax saving of £85 a year.

Hyundai i10 CO2: 119g/km From £7,545, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35

All i10 models are powered by a 67bhp, 1.1-litre petrol engine with either a manual or an automatic gearbox. Manual versions have economy of 56.5mpg and produce 119g/km of CO2, so qualifying the car for VED band B and road tax of just £35 a year.

Daihatsu Sirion 1.0 CO2: 118g/km

From £7,995, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35

The Sirion shares some of its platform with the Yaris, which also features Daihatsu's 1.3-litre petrol engine. The Sirion's, fuel economy is 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions are 118g/km putting it into VED band B.

Vauxhall Agila CO2: 120g/km

From £7,705, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35

The Agila offers three engines with manual and automatic gearbox options. Petrol units include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit developing 65bhp and an 85bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, with the latter available with automatic transmission. Vauxhall's 1.3CDTi diesel engine is also on offer, delivering 75bhp with economy of 62mpg and a CO2 rating of 120g/km.