Top 10 most fuel-efficient hatchbacks on the highway in the Philippines

Hatchbacks, the go-to car for those who want a compact but feature-packed city vehicle. While ideal for the tight spaces of the city, these vehicles can also be taken onto the highway and may even surprise you with impressive fuel economy figures. That being said we created a list of the top 10 most fuel-efficient hatchbacks in the Philippines based on their highway fuel economy figures. 

In order to make it on the list, these hatchbacks must have a review and must have a highway fuel economy rating of no lower than 20km/L. To keep things on a level playing field no hybrid hatchbacks will be included on the list. In the event of a tie, the vehicle with the higher city fuel economy rating will take the higher spot. The list will also be arranged from highest to lowest.

First, we have the new Suzuki Celerio which now comes with a new body but retains its 1.0-liter gasoline engine similar to what its predecessor had. Despite its newer body, the Suzuki hatchback still returns impressive fuel efficiency figures on the highway. Given a chance to stretch its legs, the Celerio can easily return 26km/L on the highway. Great figures for the latest generation of the nameplate. 

A well-refined hatchback is the Kia Picanto. The small hatchback comes with two engine options in the country, with each one ready to give you frugal fuel efficiency numbers. While we weren’t able to get the fuel economy figures for its 1.0-liter variant, we were able to get the figures for the 1.2-liter model. On the highway, the small-displacement engine was able to deliver 25km/L at an average speed of 90km/h. An absolute delight for those who frequently travel on highways and want a small and frugal city vehicle as a daily driver. The Picanto takes the top spot as it beats its other rival with the same highway rating thanks to better city fuel economy figures.

Coming in second is another hatchback that comes at a more affordable price point. The Suzuki S-Presso brings with it an attractive price point of slightly over P500,000 and a frugal 1.0-liter motor. Thanks to its compact and lightweight design, the S-Presso is able to return 25km/L on the highway. A serious contender for those looking to get an affordable hatchback that is also able to return frugal fuel economy numbers both in the city and on the highway. 

A veteran to the segment, the Chevrolet Spark brings with it Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with one of the larger engines in the segment. While its 1.4-liter motor is considered large for its category, it does well to return great fuel efficiency figures. While we don’t have figures for the manual variant, what we do have are its highway fuel economy numbers for its CVT model. It can push out an impressive 24.3km/L on the highway making it into the top 3 on this list.

A 1.5-liter hatchback that also delivers well when it comes to fuel economy and power is the Mazda2 hatchback. The sporty hatch brings with it great driving dynamics as well as a frugal gasoline engine thanks to its SkyActiv technology. While unfortunately, we do not have photos of the facelifted Mazda2 hatchback, its general specifications such as its engine output remain the same as its predecessor. This means that even the updated vehicle can still return 23.6 km/L on the highway beating out its other Japanese hatchback rival that also comes with the same engine displacement. If you want sporty driving dynamics, great styling, and great highway fuel economy then you should definitely consider the Mazda2 in its hatchback form.

Another popular hatchback to make it onto the list is the Mitsubishi Mirage. One of the few vehicles left that are locally assembled in the country, the Mirage brings with it a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine that many have flocked to thanks to its frugal nature. While on paper the motor isn’t the most powerful thing out there, it does match well with the Japanese hatchback granting it a highway fuel economy rating of 23 km/L. 

Here is one of the bigger hatchbacks available in the country that impressed us with its great fuel efficiency figures. The Mazda 3 Sportback not only brings great styling and great features to the table but is also frugal as well. During our testing with the vehicle, we were able to get 22.1 km/L after an hour of driving on the highway at an average speed of 90 km/h. Considering it is one of the bigger and heavier vehicles on this list, it's still quite the feat. That said, if stylish and sporty are what you are after, then you can’t go wrong with the Mazda 3 Sportback. 

If you want a slightly bigger hatchback option compared to the other equally fuel-efficient offerings of Suzuki, then you might want to consider the Suzuki Swift. It comes powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine and comes with either a CVT or a 5-speed manual. Whichever one you choose the Swift is sure to return to you good fuel economy figures. Despite its larger size compared to its siblings, it is still able to return a respectable 21.5km/L still making it a frugal option for those who want a little more space in their Suzuki hatchback.

If you want a compact and sporty hatchback that will also return excellent fuel efficiency figures, then look no further than the Honda Brio. The Japanese brand’s popular offering brings a lot to the table especially when it comes to driving dynamics. While it does come with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine, it is able to return 20.3km/L thanks to its intelligent engine technology and relatively lightweight.

When it comes to being a popular choice amongst car buyers the Toyota Wigo is one of the go-to choices on the market today. The small hatchback is not only affordable and feature-packed but it also comes with a frugal gasoline engine. While not the most powerful motor out there, it is enough for the small vehicle and to deliver great fuel economy as well. Take it on the highway and the Wigo will gladly return 20km/L worth of fuel efficiency for you. Coupled with its attractive price point, it's no wonder why it's a go-to choice for those looking for an affordable and reliable first car or second vehicle.