Your questions answered: What fuel should I use and how can I save money?

The high price of petrol is already hitting drivers in the hip pocket. For myriad reasons you can expect to pay more every time you fill, and the pundits are saying the price rises will be here to stay for some time yet.

The $2.00/litre-plus price tag has many people (rightly) questioning how to get the best economy from their cars.

The answer could be something as simple as choosing the right grade of fuel or properly inflating the tyres to cut drag, or as costly as a complete switch to battery-electric power. Or even walking or riding a bicycle…

Question: I’m keen to get your opinion on the Toyota C-HR Koba Hybrid. I have just started looking for a hybrid vehicle, like most of the population with fuel costs rising so high, and it fits my budget at around $42,000 for two-wheel drive. Is there anything else I should be considering? I am very tall, so that will affect my decision. – Nicola K

Answer: Toyota is the long-term leader on conventional hybrids in Australia so the C-HR will do the job. If you need more space, then also look at the bigger Toyota RAV4, but be aware that the waiting list for the model is long. Another C-HR-sized option is the hybrid version of the Kia Niro.

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Answer: Both are good and if she wants a hybrid, it’s an even better choice. As noted above, however, she may need to be prepared for a long wait. Many Toyota hybrid models are in back order.

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Answer: You should always use the fuel grade specified in the owner’s manual. In the case of your Kia, it’s pretty simple – the diesel-engined model takes diesel fuel and the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol is recommended for 91-octane regular unleaded. The turbo-petrol engine can take advantage of higher-octane (95 and 98 RON) petrol and may produce slightly more power and/or torque, but that will come at an overall increase in spend.

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Answer: There is no hybrid version of the Ford Puma in Australia, although the petrol-engined version’s economy is still very good at an official 5.3L/100km thanks to a 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder engine with fuel-saving cylinder deactivation technology. But it also takes 95 RON fuel. So, on fuel savings as the main consideration, it looks like the Yaris hybrid for you, despite a price close to $30,000 and a waiting list. That said, because hybrids are in high demand you are highly unlikely to get any sort of worthwhile discount on the Toyota. Ask the question at your Ford dealer… You might get a surprise and the Puma is a better car.

Question: Our 2020 Volkswagen Golf is a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and goes well. It says 98 RON fuel in big letters and 95 in small. Is it okay to use 95 while fuel prices are so expensive or is it dangerous? – Robin C

Answer: This is another job for the owner’s manual, but the Australian government’s Green Vehicle Guide lists your Golf with 95 RON octane fuel. The octane rating of fuel, or its resistance to the dangerous ‘knocking’ from pre-ignition that leads to engine damage, is particularly important in high-performance turbo engines (like your Golf’s) and during hot weather.

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Answer: If she is doing mostly stop-start driving around the suburbs then a hybrid like the RAV4 will give her a worthwhile improvement in fuel economy. The car will cost more (although not that much in the case of the Toyota range) but with fuel prices rising all the time the payback period may be shorter than you think. There is no reason to think there is more to go wrong. If she wants a hybrid for green reasons, and she’s prepared to join the long waiting list for the RAV, it’s one of the very best hybrids. Subaru also has a ‘mild hybrid’ Forester but the benefits are not as worthwhile as those from the Toyota.

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Answer: Things are going to change fast in the next year so best to keep updating your research. A diesel engine would work very well for you, but their popularity is falling and that will hurt future resale value (Ed: Although if you keep it for 13 years and do 500,000km you may not care!). If you’re not doing much stop-start running then petrol is still the best choice but go for something that ideally requires 91 or 95 RON unleaded. While you’re waiting, take a test drive in a Tesla Model 3 to see if it could work for your needs on purchase pricing, space and driving range between charges. There are plenty of small-to-mid-size cars that will give you the cabin space and refinement you need. Skoda Octavia is a carsales favourite, Toyota Camry is far less boring than you think, and the Mazda3 and Mazda6 are also excellent choices. Consider too that Kia offers a seven-year warranty on its range. The Korean marque’s Cerato is an excellent small car choice.

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Answer: Upgrading the sat-nav comes at a cost, so before you spend anything you need to check how up-to-date it will be. Most manufacturer systems lag, typically by a couple of years, because of the work to map and update the software, so it could be easier and cheaper to rely on the App system on your smartphone.

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Answer: The latest Camry is a very good car, with much in common with the much more expensive Lexus ES. But the best car for you is the one you like, provided it is a good car. The Sonata is not a big seller now because Hyundai has so many excellent SUVs, but it’s a good drive. To give you a benchmark, also test drive the Mazda6 before you commit.

Question: I’m currently driving a 2004 Mazda3 with over 240,000km on it. In regard to my next purchase I am looking at a small SUV and wondering what your recommendation would be between Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona, Honda CR-V and Kia Seltos. The budget is $25-30K. – Danielle C

Answer: From your list, the best choice is the Hyundai Kona. It topped our 2021 Best Small SUV test. We’d recommend the Kia Seltos next – and it has the added benefit of a longer (seven-year) warranty.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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