Shell V-Power is a premium fuel that has additional additives designed to promote engine longevity, reduce engine deposits and subsequently improve performance and economy. There is no independent testing to support its benefits, but anecdotally some owners find that their vehicles run better on this fuel. Other fuel brands promote their own premium fuels which make similar claims regarding additives and their benefits, but again there is no independent evidence regarding their efficacy.

Using higher octane fuels primarily benefits high performance cars where the increased octane allows the car to automatically adjust the ignition timing for additional power, but on non-performance vehicles this benefit is negligible or zero, depending on its exact specification. Given that there is no independent evidence to their benefits the gains from premium fuels appear to be more anecdotal, so we would suggest making a decision based on your own experience as well as whether or not the increased cost in the current climate is justifiable and affordable.