Have you ever played fuel light roulette? That’s how far you can get after the fuel light has flashed up on the dashboard – it’s a game of chance and risk.
Research from Compare the Market showed 37 percent of drivers believe they can drive for just 20 miles once the fuel light comes on. In fact, you can probably drive twice that distance – and more in the right car.
Here, we reveal the best (and worst) cars for fuel light roulette, starting with those to avoid if you don’t fancy being left stranded at the roadside.
10. Ford Fiesta – 41.1 miles
On average, you can expect to cover 40 miles in a Ford Fiesta with the fuel light on.
A total of 96 popular cars were compared as part of this study. Remember, driving on empty can cause mechanical problems for your vehicle, as well as leaving you stranded without fuel.
9. Nissan Juke – 40.8 miles
Obviously, the figures provided by Compare the Market are just averages – there are many factors associated with how far you can get once the fuel light has lit up. The size of the engine, whether it’s a petrol or diesel car, how fast you’re driving, and the topography of the landscape are just four of the variables at play.
In the outgoing Nissan Juke, you shouldn’t need to panic until you’ve hit 40 miles in the red.
8. Peugeot 108 – 39.1 miles
It’s a similar story in the Peugeot 108, a car that will spend much of its life in towns and cities. Which means you shouldn’t find yourself too far from a fuel station.
The 108 manages 39.1 miles with the fuel light on.
7. Citroen C1 – 38.8 miles
Predictably, the 108’s platform-sharing cousin, the Citroen C1, will cover a similar distance with the fuel light on.
In truth, it’s a good idea to refuel your car long before the gauge hits the red. That’s because the fuel pump is designed to be submerged in fuel for its cooling properties and can overheat without it.
6. Jaguar XK – 38.4 miles
Knowing how far your car can travel when the fuel light comes on could prove to be very useful if you find yourself in a remote part of the country, such as inland from the north-west coast of Scotland. You might discover that you don’t have enough fuel to reach the nearest petrol station. And when you get there, it might be shut.
At least if you’re in a Jaguar XK, you’ll be enjoying yourself.
5. Mitsubishi Shogun – 38.2 miles
Of course, many modern cars will feature a sat-nav with a handy ‘find the nearest fuel station’ when the range drops below a certain level.
That said, we’d stop short of calling the dated Mitsubishi Shogun ‘modern’. It manages 38.2 miles.
4. Mini Cooper – 37.5 miles
The average range across the Mini brand, including the popular Mini Hatch seen above, is 37.5 miles.
The Ford range offers the most at 55 miles, followed by Lexus with 54.9 miles.
3. Fiat 500 – 37.1 miles
If you’re driving a Fiat 500 and the fuel light comes on, you should be good for another 37 miles.
With a figure of 41.5 miles across its range, Fiat is second behind Mini on the list of manufacturers that can drive the shortest distance while on red. Porsche is third (43.6 miles), then Mitsubishi (44.5 miles) and Kia (46.1 miles).
2. Kia Picanto – 32.1 miles
Speaking of Kia, the little Picanto offers an equally minuscule 32.1 miles of range with the fuel light on. And you thought range anxiety only affected electric car drivers.
The Picanto has a 35-litre fuel tank.
1. BMW M3 – 32.0 miles
This is it: the car that will travel the shortest distance with the fuel light on.
Something to consider if you’ve taken your BMW M3 off to a remote part of the country in search of epic driving roads.
Cars that travel furthest with the fuel light on
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the following cars can travel the longest distance with the fuel light on.
These are the cars for you if you’re not a fan of rolling the dice and playing fuel light roulette.
10. Audi A6 – 62.1 miles
In 2015, Andrew Frankel and Rebecca Jackson set a Guinness World Record for the most countries visited on a single tank of fuel.
They visited 14 countries in an Audi A6, which manages 62.1 miles in the red.
9. Mazda 6 – 63.0 miles
When the fuel light comes on in the Mazda 6, you have enough range to get you from Nottingham to Northampton.
Other locations beginning with ‘N’ are available.
8. Range Rover Sport – 63.4 miles
In 2017, Fergal McGrath and Paul Clifton drove a Honda Jazz 1.3 from Land’s End to John O’Groats and set a Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption in a petrol car. They achieved a remarkable 95.336mpg.
In other news, a Range Rover Sport can cover 63.4 miles with the fuel light on.
7. Audi Q5 – 63.8 miles
When the low fuel light comes on in the Audi Q5, you’ve probably got enough juice to cover 64 miles.
As mentioned at the start of this article, however, there are a number of factors that influence how far you can actually get.
6. Mercedes-Benz E-Class – 64.0 miles
All things being equal, you should be able to travel 64 miles with the fuel light on in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
And a very comfortable 64 miles it will be, too.
5. Toyota Prius – 66.6 miles
The Toyota Prius can travel around 2.6 miles further than the luxurious Mercedes-Benz, though.
No wonder Uber drivers love this hybrid hatchback.
4. BMW 5 Series – 68.3 miles
The BMW 5 Series also beats the E-Class, it’s arch-rival in the executive saloon class.
It can stretch to 68 miles with the fuel light on.
3. Ford Mondeo – 70.0 miles
Amazingly, a Ford Mondeo can cover 70 miles, which is enough to get you from Exeter Airport to Bristol Airport.
Handy if you’re a cabbie (who lives in Devon).
2. Volvo V40 – 70.1 miles
The Volvo V40 can travel 70.1 miles with the light on.
An impressive result, but it’s not the star performer on this list…
1. Volkswagen Passat – 75.0 miles
That accolade belongs to the Volkswagen Passat, with a huge 75 miles of range available with the fuel light on.
In 2011, a Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion set a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance driven on a single tank of fuel, covering 1,581.88 miles in Croatia.
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