Top 5 tax-busting family hatchbacks
- We pick top five green family hatchbacks
- Two petrol/electric hybrids
- Tax busting cars with CO2 emissions as low as 89g/km
Written by Parkers
Published: 2 August 2010
Updated: 1 February 2017
Nissan has opened the order book for its Leaf electric car, and while it promises zero exhaust emissions it is pricey at nearly £24,000 (with the government grant). But there are plenty of low emission family hatchbacks on the market. We pick five of the best.
1.SEAT Leon Ecomotive 1.6 TDI S
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WHY BUY?
Essentially, this is a Volkswagen Golf in different clothes, sharing the same 1.6-litre diesel engine and stop/start technology. It returns identical figures to the Golf - 99g/km of CO2 and fuel economy of 74.3mpg - but costs nearly £2,000 less than the Golf BlueMotion.
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VITAL STATISTICS
Price - £16,840
CO2 emissions - 99g/km
BIK banding - 13%
Fuel economy - 74.3mpg
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2. Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion 5dr
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WHY BUY?
Why buy? For exactly the same reasons as you'd buy the SEAT above, with the exception of price. Near-£2,000 premium for the VW badge, but the Golf holds on to its value better - it retains 40% of price new after three years/60,000 miles, while the Leon retains 33%.
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VITAL STATISTICS
Price - £18,715
CO2 emissions - 99g/km
BIK banding - 13%
Fuel economy - 74.3mpg
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3. Toyota Auris HSD T4
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WHY BUY?
If you want to advertise your eco leanings buy a Prius, but if you're happy staying incognito the Auris is the perfect car. Shares the same mechanicals as the petrol/electric Prius but is clothed in one of the most unassuming suits on the road.
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VITAL STATISTICS
Price - £18,950
CO2 emissions - 89g/km
BIK banding - 10%
Fuel economy - 74.3mpg
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4. Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe ES start/stop
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WHY BUY?
OK, it's not a hatchback, but the V50 estate offers plenty of room for a family, has a stylish interior and, thanks to a start/stop system, brings emissions down to an impressive 104g/km. A little pricey, but semi-premium branding lifts Volvo above volume makers.
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VITAL STATISTICS
Price - £21,445
CO2 emissions - 104g/km
BIK banding - 13%
Fuel economy - 72.5mpg
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5. Honda Insight SE
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WHY BUY?
Honda has recently made some wholesale revisions to the Insight, promising a better interior with higher quality parts used and also a much improved ride quality thanks to suspension revisions. Economy is not its strongest suit but it's a cheap hybrid.
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VITAL STATISTICS
Price - £16,325
CO2 emissions - 101g/km
BIK banding - 10%
Fuel economy - 64.2mpg
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