Finding a car that sips fuel rather than guzzles it has long been a top priority for many drivers, but it seems it’s more important than ever to make your money - and fuel - stretch as far as possible. 

With fluctuating fuel prices and increasing environmental awareness, the appeal of a highly economical car is at an all-time high - but with so many models on the market, how do you pinpoint the ones that truly excel in fuel efficiency?

It’s one thing to read the official miles-per-gallon (MPG) figures published by manufacturers, but these numbers are often achieved in ideal conditions and not easily replicated in the real world. 

To help you make a more informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of all the most economical cars on sale today. To see if they’re up to snuff, we’ve also included our own economy results for each model – with some surprising results. 

This list includes petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and full-hybrid models. We’ve excluded plug-in hybrid cars here, because their officially advertised economy figures are often highly unrealistic and rely on large, charged-up batteries. 

We’ve also excluded fully-electric models here, but you can see our list of the longest-range electric cars, plus our compilation of the most efficient electric cars and their real-world results. The top pick based on official figures is the frugal Mazda 2, but you’ll have to read on to see what it actually scored in the real world. 

So whether you're a daily commuter, a budget-conscious buyer or simply looking to reduce your carbon footprint, these vehicles represent some of the best choices available for maximising your miles per gallon.