Economical petrol engine for 25,000 annual mileage?
What simple engined economical petrol family cars can you suggest for mainly motorway use of 25,000 miles per annum? I am considering a Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI but wonder if the turbo will be problematic at high mileage.
I have driven diesels for many years but all have suffered expensive repairs to injection and emmisions systems after 100,000 miles. I typically buy used 1-2 years old then run them until 180,000 miles or repairs become uneconomic.
I have driven diesels for many years but all have suffered expensive repairs to injection and emmisions systems after 100,000 miles. I typically buy used 1-2 years old then run them until 180,000 miles or repairs become uneconomic.
Asked on 26 November 2015 by LJP
Answered by
Honest John
Very interesting that you have done your sums based on your own experience and calculated that at 25k miles a year you might be better off with a small turbo petrol. We don't yet have any data on the longevity of the latest generation 1.0 and 1.2 manifold in head turbo petrols. Volkswagen switched from chain cam to belt cam in the EA211 over 2010/2013 because the chains were regularly failing, so that adds a maintenance job of changing the belt, tensioner and waterpump every 4 years or 60k miles (to stay safe).
The latest belt cam Volkswagen engines have been fine so far. So have the chain cam Renault/Nissan 1.2 4 cylinder engines, the chain cam 1.3 3 cylinder Peugeot/Citroen Puretech engines and belt in oil 3 cylinder Ford 1.0 EcoBoosts.
I personally rate the 1.2 Puretech 130 in the Peugeot 308 very highly for its combination of power, torque, pleasure and close to 50mpg. But you could go for a bigger Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC chain cam 4 cylinder that can give 48mpg, or go the same route as tens of thousands of taxi drivers and get an ultra reliable, low maintenance cost Toyota Prius that will do about 50-55mpg average.
The latest belt cam Volkswagen engines have been fine so far. So have the chain cam Renault/Nissan 1.2 4 cylinder engines, the chain cam 1.3 3 cylinder Peugeot/Citroen Puretech engines and belt in oil 3 cylinder Ford 1.0 EcoBoosts.
I personally rate the 1.2 Puretech 130 in the Peugeot 308 very highly for its combination of power, torque, pleasure and close to 50mpg. But you could go for a bigger Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC chain cam 4 cylinder that can give 48mpg, or go the same route as tens of thousands of taxi drivers and get an ultra reliable, low maintenance cost Toyota Prius that will do about 50-55mpg average.
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