As the conflict in Iran continues, there are mounting concerns about the impact on household budgets, with rising tensions pushing up the cost of living. In this climate, owning a car that is economical to run—fuel-efficient, low-maintenance, and affordable to insure—could become essential, depending on how long the crisis lasts.
In the meantime, a team of motoring experts has compiled a list of the most affordable cars to run in the UK. Some are electric and some are petrol, but only one emerged victorious—and all three in the top ranking are electric.
The champion, determined by Auto Express, was selected by calculating a car's total cost of ownership. The specialists from the respected motoring publication collaborated with car data firm CAP HPI and employed a series of algorithms to identify their winner, reports the Mirror.
The top position went to the compact, electric Citroen Ami. Launched earlier in the 2020s, it was calculated to cost 22.17p per mile to run, equating to a monthly cost of £184.72 and a total cost of £6,649.88 after 36 months or 30,000 miles.
Despite the Ami's triumph, Auto Express highlighted a few caveats: "The Citroen Ami could be seen as something of an imposter as it's technically not a car at all; it's legally classed as a quadricycle."
"It still has four wheels, a steering wheel, and an enclosed space with seating for two people, however... [with] a range of just over 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph."
Consequently, the vehicle that placed second in the overall rankings—the electric version of the Dacia Spring—is also a winner in practical terms, because it is officially a car. The Spring costs 37.56p per mile to run, a monthly cost of £313, and a total of £11,267.88 after three years or around 30,000 miles.
On the Dacia, Auto Express experts added: "The Spring is one of the cheapest cars to run, and it's also one of the cheapest electric cars you can buy right now, with a starting price of £15,995 before any additional savings."
Placing third behind the Dacia was the Chinese Leapmotor T03, a small, quirky electric car costing 40.16p per mile to run, £334.66 per month, and £12,047.75 over three years or 30,000 miles.
This assessment comes as the UK government reportedly reviews a proposed fuel duty increase aimed at protecting consumers. There had been suggestions to scrap the 5p fuel duty freeze, but with the Middle East crisis worsening, calls to maintain it are increasing.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the review of the planned freeze removal, initially introduced in 2022 by then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak in response to the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir said: "Fuel duty is frozen. It's going to remain frozen until September, and we will keep the situation under review in light of what's happening in Iran. We're working across all departments and with allies to deal with the impact of the conflict in Iran."
