There’s no denying that the price of motoring has risen in recent years – in fact, according to the RAC, 92% of drivers reported a rise in expenditure on petrol or diesel in 2022, and it’s a trajectory that we’re seeing in many areas of our lives. Therefore, if you regularly cross the country, whether it’s on business or pleasure, you may be wondering what type of car can complete the journey within your budget.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the kinds of cars you should consider when it comes to taking a trip across the UK in an affordable way.
Cars with smaller engines
What they may lack in power, they certainly make up for in economy; cars with smaller engines are cheaper to run in terms of fuel, and work out less to insure and tax than other bigger and more powerful vehicles too.
An engine with a smaller capacity means that less fuel is used, and examples of pocket rockets that keep costs down include:
- Toyota Aygo
- Dacia Sandero
- Kia Niro
- Honda Jazz
- Nissan Qashqai
If you’re looking to invest in a car with a smaller engine, an extra layer of affordability is provided by buying a second-hand car as opposed to a brand new model. Many dealerships, such as Carlingo, who sell used cars near Leeds, offer cars that come in cheaper than if you were to buy new from the manufacturer, but still come with some impressive specifications that make a long journey a dream.
Hybrid vehicles
By bringing another power source into the mix, your petrol or diesel doesn’t have to work as hard: that’s what hybrids achieve, and it’s why they’re so popular. By sharing the power-generating load between a battery and a traditional internal combustion engine, which can be powered by either petrol or diesel, your fuel costs come down considerably.
Depending on the kind of hybrid you buy, you may not even need to ‘plug-in’ your vehicle, as regenerative braking recharges the battery again and again. These ‘full hybrid’ vehicles are the ones most popular for affordable trips across the UK, as less fuel is used without having to plan the trip around electric charging points.
It’s possible in many of these hybrid models to travel purely on the electric charge alone for a number of miles (known as the vehicle’s ‘range’), so that you can help protect the planet as well as your purse. Here are the different types of hybrid vehicle you can purchase:
Mild hybrids
Mild hybrids feature a traditional combustion engine, powered by either petrol or diesel, that benefits from a little electrical assistance from an on-board battery. It’s not enough electrical power to drive the car on alone, but it does increase fuel efficiency by marginally reducing consumption.
Self-charging hybrid
Self-charging hybrids are often referred to simply as ‘hybrids’, and again feature a combustion engine alongside a battery; albeit a bigger one than a mild hybrid. These batteries are cleverly self-charging, relying on the energy generated from braking to recharge and share the load of powering the car. This is known as regenerative braking.
Self-charging hybrids have transformed fuel efficiency for cars doing long trips across the UK, as they don’t need plugging in – no charging station stops required!
Plug-in hybrids
With a bigger battery, plug-in hybrids (also known as PHEVs) need to be plugged in to recharge. However, this also means that they can last on electric-only power for longer on a single charge than their self-charging counterparts, which is ideal if you’re doing short journeys. Trips across the UK will require a little more prior planning, but the fuel efficiency benefits pay off as a result.
Many hybrids are available on the used car market now that they’re more widely available – another way in which they make travelling across the UK affordable.
SUVs
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have quickly gained in popularity over time due to their spacious interiors, higher ride height, and versatile performance capabilities. SUVs provide ample cargo space, making them the ideal vehicle for family road trips and outdoor adventures. Many modern SUVs also come equipped with advanced technologies and safety features that ensure a pleasant driving experience. Consumers now have access to both traditional petrol and hybrid models, giving them flexibility without compromising performance on or off the road. Maintenance and parts costs for Land Rover SUVs are relatively affordable, making them a practical and cost-effective solution for everyday use. Vitesse Land Rover Parts, for instance, provides high-quality yet affordable replacement parts to ensure long term reliability for your vehicle.
Electric cars
In general, electricity is cheaper than fuel, so if you really want to maximise your money on trips across the UK, a fully electric car is an option to consider. Whilst it takes a little extra thought when it comes to where you’ll stop to recharge (and for how long), you can cruise past petrol stations safe in the knowledge that you no longer have to pay over the odds at the pump. Popular examples of fully electric cars include:
- Honda-E
- Peugeot e-2008
- Tesla Model Y
- BMW iX3
- Kia EV6
Many electric cars have an electric range of between 100-300 miles, so it’s important that you understand your car’s capacity when you purchase it. Before you set off on your cross-country trip, make sure that you do some planning by consulting a map of UK public charging stations, so that you can make the most of your vehicle’s capacity from a single charge – otherwise, you’ll get the dreaded ‘range anxiety’!
*This is a collaborative post
