Sporty economical cars – the fastest cars with good mpg
Want performance but don't want to live at the petrol station? Here are 10 cars that fit the bill
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Buying a sports car normally means you must sacrifice fuel economy, but what if we told you this doesn’t have to be the case?
If you’re looking for a fun driving experience but don’t want to be constantly stopping for fuel, then one of these 10 cars may be for you.
Audi TT
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If you want a sporty coupé that you can drive during the week and enjoy on British B roads at the weekends, there’s nothing better than an Audi TT.
In many ways, it’s a baby R8, but with more practicality, greater fuel efficiency, and it’s cheaper and more accessible to buy.
Power comes from either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the standard TT or a more powerful 2.5-litre five-cylinder in the top-spec TT RS model.
Depending on which model you go for, this used Audi sports car offers between 31 and 42.2mpg which for something with a 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds (for the TT RS) is very impressive.
Suzuki Swift Sport
 "Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid")
The Suzuki Swift Sport is essentially a standard Swift but with a body kit and a peppy turbocharged engine that arrived to rival the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST and VW Polo GTI.
But despite being a hot hatch, a used Suzuki Swift Sport is surprisingly economical thanks to its added mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology, which helps keep its emissions to a minimum and allows it to run more efficiently.
The engine powering it is a 1.4-litre with MHEV assistance. It produces 140hp and offers up to 50.4mpg – which is amazing for a performance car that can seat five people.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
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The Volkswagen Golf GTI has long been the go-to economical performance car because of its incredible practicality, cornering capabilities, and excellent fuel economy.
The GTI is most at home on a twisty country road, but it’s also great at driving through cities or on those longer motorway journeys.
At its best, this small used Volkswagen can achieve 38.7mpg when fitted with the automatic DSG gearbox (reducing to 38.2mpg with the manual).
This is very impressive for a hot hatch powered by a decently sized 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 248hp, which is delivered straight to the front wheels.
Mazda MX-5
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The Mazda MX-5 is the sports car that’s used as a benchmark by almost anyone. It’s been around for decades and it’s incredibly fun to drive – and it’s efficient.
This two-seater Japanese sports car from Mazda is powered by a very reliable 184hp 2.0-litre petrol engine, though a smaller 132hp 1.5-litre is also available.
Both options are very peppy and return up to 44.8mpg, putting it on par with some hybrid family cars in terms of efficiency.
Admittedly, there are only two seats, but if you don’t need the extra space or want a weekend car, then this is a winner.
Mini Countryman
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The Mini Countryman isn’t a sporty car by nature, but it digs into its roots and offers a great driving experience that’ll make you feel as though you’re sat in a hot hatch – especially with the top-spec John Cooper Works (JCW) version.
The engine sat up front in this used Mini is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit that produces 138hp, but this grows to a whopping 306hp with the JCW’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.
Mini has always been good at making great city cars that return good economy figures and the larger Countryman is no different, with up to 45mpg.
Mercedes S-Class
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It may be as long as a pickup truck, but the Mercedes S-Class definitely doesn’t perform like one. Instead, it’s fast and quiet like any other luxury limousine.
While it may not handle corners like a Honda Civic Type-R, a used Mercedes S-Class is an excellent cruiser with plenty of power backing it.
It has a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engines, with the most popular being the 376hp S580e PHEV model because it’s the most refined and offers up to 65 miles of all-electric range.
But if you want true performance, some older models can be found with a 6.0-litre Bi-turbo V12 engine that produces 530hp – but this is obviously less efficient.
The S-Class returns between 19.9mpg with the smallest petrol engine and 403.6mpg with the PHEV, which for any car is impressive, let alone a luxury saloon that weighs more than 2.5 tonnes.
Porsche 911
 "Porsche 911 (992)")
No matter where you live in the world or what you drive, the Porsche 911 has and will most likely always be the best car for performance, comfort and fuel economy.
No matter which model you choose, you’re getting hatchback-like fuel economy from a sports car.
The Porsche GT models such as the GT3 and GT4 will get lower economy ratings because they essentially have race car engines, but the normal models will happily return between 22.4 and 28mpg without a sweat, which is very impressive for a punchy flat-six engine.
Skoda Octavia
 "Skoda Octavia vRS estate")
If you have a family or could just do with the added space of an estate or large saloon, then Skoda’s got you covered with the Octavia.
As well as being practical, the Octavia is also very frugal on fuel, making it one of the most fuel-efficient family estate cars around.
If performance is what you’re after, then the sporty vRS model is the one to have thanks to its 245hp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that’s mated to an advanced seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for those quick shifts.
This vRS model is also capable of returning 49.6mpg, while the most-efficient diesel version offers 68.9mpg.
Opt for the Octavia iV plug-in hybrid, however, and you can expect a staggering 289.5mpg and up to 43 miles of electric-only range.
BMW M340i
 "BMW M340i")
If you want the benefits of the hardcore M3 but with decent fuel economy, then a used BMW M340i is a great balance.
It’s essentially a beefed-up 3 Series with four-wheel drive that acts like it should have the M3’s flared arches.
Power comes from a 3.0-litre straight-six engine that puts out 379hp, yet it still manages to be efficient with 34mpg. Go for a diesel model and you can get up to 62.8mpg.
Volvo XC90
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Hear us out with this one. No, the Volvo XC90 is not a sports car by any means, but it is a powerful SUV that’s jolly quick and efficient.
There are a handful of engines available, from the entry-level 2.0-litre B5 and B6 petrol engines all the way up to the top-spec T8 plug-in hybrid that offers up to 235.1mpg.
While this is a great option, it may not be for everyone, which is why the engine we’d recommend is the mid-spec B5 diesel that’s powerful with 240hp and efficient too with up to 44.1mpg.
Aside from this, this large used Volvo is by far the most comfortable car on this list, making those longer motorway journeys across continents a doddle.