Beat the high fuel prices with these 5 fuel-efficient cars

The recent rollback may be a welcome reprieve from the 11 weeks of consecutive price hikes, but it's still a stretch to call fuel "affordable." 

So, what real sights for sore eyes (caused by the price boards in fuel stations) are these five fuel-efficient vehicles we've lined up here. These cars' measly fuel consumption figures could save you big bucks —  and most importantly, save Mother Earth from having her natural resources being depleted too quickly.  

These fuel-efficient vehicles in this list belong to various segments and price ranges, too, so you'll likely find a car that will suit your needs as perfectly as your budget for fuel and vehicle acquisition. 

Suzuki S-Presso 

Apart from scooters, Suzuki is also offering an ideal four-wheeled city slicker in the form of the cheeky-looking S-Presso. This mini-hatchback retails for P523,000, or P568,000 with all the accessories thrown in. 

Suzuki estimates the S-Presso can do 21 clicks to a liter. That seems plausible, considering that the S-Presso achieved 19kpl during a highway run under our watch. City driving yielded 11 to 12kpl. 

Credit goes to the S-Presso's 770-kilogram curb weight for the 21kpl. The hatchback's three-cylinder, one-liter engine may be packing only 65hp, but it has little weight to shift, anyway. 

Honda City Hatchback

Stellar excellent fuel consumption has been the trump card of the old Honda Jazz, and today, its successor the City Hatchback continues to bandy double-digit kpl numbers. Honda has priced its subcompact hatch at P1.15 million. 

How does the City Hatchback's 25kpl — as tested by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) — sound? 

Well, you'd be more likely to achieve the AAP-test kpl by switching on the City Hatchback's Econ driving mode. What that does is soften throttle response — preventing your lead foot from urging the 1.5-liter's VTEC to "kick in" and waste fuel in the process. 

Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid

Toyota is expanding its hybrid lineup. The expansion started with the Prius and was then followed by the Corolla Altis Hybrid, which retails for P1.595 million. 

The Corolla Altis Hybrid achieves a manufacturer-claimed 21kpl — thanks to the car's hybrid drivetrain that consist of a 1.8-liter internal combustion engine (ICE), battery, and electric motor.

These three things work together or separately to provide power to the car's wheels. And maintaining those wheels on city roads, we netted 17kpl with the Corolla Altis Hybrid. 

Geely Okavango 

Even relatively new carmakers have joined the hybrid fray. Geely has done so with the Okavango. This mild-hybrid crossover is priced from P1.208 to P1.478 million. 

The Okavango's 1.5-liter turbocharged engine is mated to a 48-volt Electric Motor Synergy (EMS) to create a mild hybrid system. To achieve an estimated eight to 15kpl, the gasoline engine charges the EMS at cruising speeds, or when the vehicles' brakes are applied.

When the Okavango's EMS is fully charged, it can provide additional power to the engine. During idle, the engine shuts off, another fuel-saving feature. 

Ford Ranger

The pickups market may be awash with new offerings, but Ford's contender isn't to be outdone in the kpl standings. The Ranger, er, range retails from P1.155 to P1.758 million.

In the Ranger XLS 4x2 AT (P1.218 million) we recently drove, its 2.2-liter turbodiesel and six-speed automatic returned 11 to 13kpl in the city and highway — without the driver employing fuel-efficient driving measures. 

Even the Ranger Raptor — with its bi-turbo diesel engine and beefy body — managed eight to 13kpl in similar conditions. 

These five fuel-efficient cars also prove that we can still enjoy driving despite the high fuel prices. 

Photos from Suzuki Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines, Sojitz G Auto Philippines, Dylan Afuang, and Roy Robles