What's this about?

The diligent people at ALD Automotive Fleet World have put a number of cars through an extensive 385-mile driving test to see which model on sale today actually returns the best fuel economy in the real world.

What kind of test is it?

Taking place over two days, the cars must all drive in normal conditions with no hyper-miling allowed. All vehicles carry two people and must reach a number of set checkpoints at pre-determined times. The route took place in Oxfordshire and included all of the usual conditions experienced in everyday driving such as hills and traffic.

And the winner is...

Peugeot! Its five-door 208 hatchback powered by the company's 1.6-litre BlueHDi 75hp diesel engine managed to return 80.7mpg. The car used was in standard production guise and had just a few miles on the clock.

Following confirmation of the win, Brand Director at Peugeot UK, Neil Miscrop, said: "This is a fantastic result which clearly highlights just how efficient the latest Peugeot range of new cars can be in real-world traffic conditions. Customers seeking reassurances that they are buying a new car with leading environmental credentials need look no further than Peugeot for the most fuel efficient vehicles on the market."

Dave Humphreys - 8 Oct 2015