Driving 35K miles a year - which car offers the best economy?

I will be driving 35,000 miles a year. I'd like to know what the most cost-effective motoring solution would be (overall cost, covering depreciation, servicing costs etc). Would it work out cheaper to buy a used car and sell it every couple of years?

I was considering a used Toyota Prius (or Lexus CT200h), but would a diesel be better for my mileage? The other alternative is leasing - do you think this may work out cheaper overall? My current budget to purchase a car is between £13,000.

Asked on 19 April 2015 by gandyo

Answered by Honest John
That's good thinking. A Prius, or preferably a Toyota Auris HSD, might work out quite well because of of their unstressed drivetrains. Prius taxis have been known to clock up 400k no problem.

You won't get the economy of a really economical diesel such as a BMW 320ED. But you should average 55 - 60mpg sticking to the limits and avoide all the problems of diesel particulate filters, dual mass flywheels, timing belts, turbos and EGRs.
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