The current cost of fuel is astronomical, to say the least. It’s not a secret that we’re all struggling to commute to work or even make that occasional trip to our rural homes.
And it gets worse – the cost of fuel is not going to go down any time soon due to the current global economic conditions as well as the crazy taxes we have here in Kenya.
So, if you are going to buy a car, you want to make sure it is highly fuel efficient. That way, you can enjoy your daily commute and an occasional road trip to Naivasha or Namanga without experiencing the proverbial “pain at the pump.”
The following is a round-up of the most fuel-efficient cars in Kenya. This list is all about normal-sized cars but we also have another list of Kei cars which are equally fuel-efficient but mostly good for Uber business as they are small in size.
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Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Normal-Sized Cars in Kenya
We have a detailed and exciting article that covers all the cars and their fuel efficiency specs in a fun-filled way. In a rush? The following quick list sums up the top 10 fuel saving cars available in this part of the world currently.
- Nissan Note ePower
- Honda Fit Hybrid
- Toyota Aqua
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Honda Vezel Hybrid
- Toyota Vitz
- Toyota Prius
- Honda Insight
- Mazda Demio
Now that you have an idea of which cars made it to the list, it’s time to break them down for you. Read on.
Table of Contents
Nissan Note ePower
This is not your ordinary Nissan Note. The ePower is specially built to deliver optimal fuel efficiency in a manner never seen before in the local motoring space.
While the car is electric, it is special in the sense that it uses petrol to re-charge its motor. The electric motor is entirely responsible for delivering power to the wheels of the car.
So, this is an electric car but one that doesn’t need to be plugged into some sockets to recharge. Simply drive it into a petrol station and you’re good to go. Interesting, right?
Thanks to its unconventional design, the Nissan Note ePower delivers an outstanding fuel efficiency of 37.2 km/L according to the manufacturer. The car weighs 1 tonne and generates 108 horsepower which is really good for a car of this size.
So, not only do you get good fuel efficiency but decent acceleration as well.
Honda Fit Hybrid
If you are not a huge fan of Nissan and their “poor reliability” stereotype, then you might want to go for the more reliable Honda brand. And what better way to experience the magic of Honda than with their legendary Fit Hybrid model?
The Honda Fit Hybrid features a combination of a 1.5 L engine and a hybrid motor both of which generate 137 horsepower combined.
What’s more, the car comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox for smooth acceleration. Yup, you read that right. Dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) are typically associated with fancy German car models but here you are with a Honda Fit that comes with a DCT.
What about fuel efficiency? Well, this particular Fit model is claimed to deliver 36.4km/L according to tests done in Japan. It weighs 1.1-tonnes making it lightweight enough for optimal fuel savings.
Toyota Aqua
If you belong to the cartel that believes in “gari ni Toyota,” here’s your prince in shining armor! Toyota Aqua is easily the most fuel-efficient Toyota you’ll find on our roads currently thanks to its acclaimed 35.4km/L efficiency.
The Aqua combines a 1.5L engine with a hybrid motor to generate a combined output of 98 horsepower. That’s just enough to propel this 1-tonne machine from 0 to 100 KPH in 10.7 seconds.
So, it is a modest car but one with above-average capabilities.
One interesting thing you need to note about the Aqua is that it comes with the Hybrid Synergy gearbox which is also commonly used in the Lexus RX450H.
This is an intelligent gearbox that alternates between CVT-mode and electric mode depending on the driving conditions.
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Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Is there such a car as the “Toyota Corolla Hybrid” on Kenyan roads? You might be wondering. Well, the answer is yes only that they go by the name Toyota Fielder and Toyota Axio.
Both the Toyota Fielder Hybrid and Toyota Axio Hybrid come with a 1.5L engine and a hybrid motor – with a combined output of 98 Horsepower. While that’s pretty modest for cars this big, it all begins to make sense when you consider that they come with an eCVT gearbox (Hybrid Synergy) which is exactly like the one you’ll find in the Lexus Hybrid category.
If you are shopping for a spacious car that you can use to haul your entire clan with, and yet one that doesn’t gobble up lots of fuel, either of these two cars will fit the bill (especially the Fielder).
The Corollas are officially rated at 33.0 km/L which is remarkably good for cars of this capacity.
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Mitsubishi Mirage
It may not have all the bells and whistles you’ll find in the other fuel-efficient cars we have discussed so far but the Mitsubishi Mirage remains a safe bet when fuel efficiency is needed.
The 1.0L version of this car generates 68 Horsepower. And while that might not seem like much, the car makes up for it through its futuristic INVECS III CVT gearbox. This gearbox eliminates the hassle of shifting gears thereby improving this car’s ability to accelerate.
The car which weighs 800KG & is officially rated at 27.2km/L on fuel. And it gets even better as a pre-owned Mirage from Japan costs roughly Ksh900,000. This makes it both cheap to buy and cheap to run (comparatively).
Honda Vezel Hybrid
This compact SUV is perhaps the most fuel-efficient car in its category right now here in Kenya. The Vezel comes with 1.5L petrol engine (129 Horsepower) and a hybrid motor (30 Horsepower) for a combined output estimated to be more than 137 Horsepower.
The car comes with a dual-clutch transmission for super-smooth transmission. Dual-clutch transmissions are also fun to drive especially for those who aren’t huge fans of the CVT transmissions.
You can get a remarkable 27km/L from this 1.3-tonne machine if you drive it modestly.
Toyota Vitz
Another vehicle that combines reliability with fuel efficiency is the Vitz from Toyota. Named from the German word “Witz” which loosely translates to “Wit” or “clever” in English, this sub-compact car is a decent choice for a daily drive.
The 1300cc version of it is the most preferred one as it gives out a sizeable amount of power too. Plus, it delivers the best fuel efficiency of any Vitz out there i.e. 26.5km/L. You can also install an LPG kit on it to dramatically improve these figures.
There are two things that help this car achieve such fuel economy. Firstly, it comes with the Toyota Stop-Start idling system which helps it conserve fuel in traffic. Secondly, it is really light in weight – as it weighs in at around 1 tonne.
The 1.3L Vitz generates 94HP and is mated with a 7-speed Shiftmatic CVT gearbox from Toyota for smooth acceleration.
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Toyota Prius
The eighth position on the list of most fuel-efficient cars in Kenya goes to the Toyota Prius. Rated one of the best-selling Toyotas globally, the Prius is respected as the pioneer of hybrid motor vehicles.
But just how good is this car when it comes to fuel economy? Well, if driven modestly, the car can deliver up to 25km/L according to tests done in Japan. This is partly due to the fact that the Prius weighs approximately 1.3 tonnes.
Its considerably heavy weight compared to the competition. It’s weight works slightly against its fuel economy numbers.
However, the Prius comes with an 1800cc engine that generates 136 horsepower. It delivers all that power to the wheels via a hybrid e-CVT gearbox which enables it to dash from 0 to 100KPH in 10.5 seconds at best.
Honda Insight
Honda launched the INSIGHT in 1999 with the goal of achieving the lowest fuel consumption possible at that time. To date, the car continues to stun in that regard all thanks to its aerodynamic and lightweight design.
The car is powerful yet nimble, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking for a family or business car.
Armed with a 1300cc engine and a hybrid motor, the car generates 98HP – just enough to propel the 1.2-tonne machine with ease. The Insight is mated with a CVT gearbox unlike its fellow hybrids from Honda which come with dual-clutch trannies.
As one of the most economical cars on Kenyan roads, this savvy car delivers 23km/L which is among the lowest fuel consumption figures in the country currently.
Mazda Demio
Based on the dazzling KODO-Soul of Motion design which closely mimics the looks of its bigger brother the CX-5, Mazda Demio wraps up our list of fuel-saving cars. The Demio achieves this remarkable feat thanks to its aerodynamic design, lightweight, and above all i-Stop technology.
The i-Stop technology is almost similar to the one you’ll find in the Vitz – in that, it automatically shuts the car when you’re in traffic and immediately re-activates it when you need to get moving.
Thanks to its superb engineering this 6-speed car is officially rated at a fuel economy of 21km/L. Although it probably consumes a little more than that in real-world driving, that figure goes a long way to show you just how efficient this car can be if driven modestly.
The Demio boasts a 1300cc petrol engine that generates 90 horsepower. It weighs slightly over 1 tonne.
Tips To Achieve Better Fuel Efficiency When Driving on Kenyan Roads
- Switch off the A/C
Switching on your car’s air conditioning system lowers your mileage by about 1.5km/L. So, consider switching it off and keeping your windows closed whenever possible.
- Keep your Revs at Below 3,000 RPMs
If your car comes with a tachometer try not to rev it past 3000 RPM (or 3×1000) for prolonged periods. Revving too high puts your engine under pressure causing it to burn much more fuel.
- Avoid Overloading the Car
Each extra kilo of weight you carry in your car increases the amount of fuel it will consume. So, avoid carrying unnecessary luggage or people in your car if fuel efficiency is your top priority.
- Don’t Overspeed
It’s easy to be tempted to try and keep up with everyone on the highway but if you’re on a mission to save fuel don’t do it. Driving too fast can increase fuel consumption. Try to keep your speed between 60 and 100KPH on the highway for the best gas mileage.
Conclusion
In the era of expensive fuel, you’re better off going for the most fuel-efficient car available. This can help you cut your spending at the petrol stations and also play a part in conserving the environment. Talk of hitting two birds with one stone!
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Kevin Muya is an award-winning entrepreneur and the visionary Founder and CEO of Scepture Empire Limited. With a passion for e-commerce and digital marketing, Kevin has revolutionized online marketplaces in Kenya through innovative ideas that transform buyer-seller interactions.