Buying a new car can be exciting and there are lots of options to consider.
Choosing a fuel-efficient car is a good financial decision that can save you thousands of dollars in fuel costs. It will also greatly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions you generate when driving.
All new light motor vehicles (cars, four-wheel drives and light commercial vehicles) sold in Australia have to display a Fuel Consumption Label. The label is designed to help you make informed choices about the environmental impact and running costs of you new car. Fuel consumption information is also available for many cars made before 2004.
Consider the car you need
Think about your day-to-day transport requirements. To choose the right car, consider:
- How many passengers do you usually carry?
- How much boot space do you need?
- Do you usually make shorter trips in a city, or take longer journeys?
These answers will affect the size of the car and the engine size you choose.
Consider the car you want
You may have a favourite manufacturer or style of car. To choose the right car, consider how often you will use extra features like four-wheel drive or a large engine for towing a caravan.
Research the fuel efficiency
- If you are buying a new car, check the Fuel Consumption Label. All new cars sold in Australia have to have this label displayed. The lower the figures the better - the figures show how many litres of fuel you will use to drive 100 kilometres and the greenhouse gas emissions.
- If you are looking at cars made between 2004 and now, refer to the Green Vehicle Guide ratings to check their fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution ratings. The Guide also includes safety information for each vehicle.
If you are looking at cars made between 1986 and 2003, use the Fuel Consumption Guide Database to compare the efficiency of different models.
Shop around
- Do lots of research into which cars are the most reliable. You can visit the car company websites as well as consumer sites or look up test reviews to get an idea of what experts think.
- Test drive different cars and take your time to shop around. Avoid ‘purchase pressure’ by taking a friend.
- A mechanic's inspection can help to identify how well-maintained and efficient a used car is before you buy it.
Drive efficiently
- Make sure that you know all the tips and tricks for how to drive efficiently to save more on fuel and car maintenance.
