The people movers with the best fuel economy in Australia

If you’re moving a lot of people a long way, it’s important to have a vehicle that can fit everything you need and go the distance.

The people mover segment isn’t one of the most competitive in the Australian market, but there are still some choices to be made when it comes to choosing one with the best fuel efficiency.

To help break it down, we’ve taken the options in the ‘People Movers less than $70,000’ category and compared them based on their best claimed fuel economy.

Some of these models offer different engine options across the range, so we’ve ranked them based on the variants with the best fuel economy figure in the table below. The figures for each individual variant are detailed throughout the article.

There are also some electric people movers available in Australia right now, though they all come in above $70,000 and will be broken down against their rivals in detail in a future article.

If you’re wondering about the boot and seating capacity of these cheaper people movers, it’ll be detailed in a separate article.

Click on a car’s name above to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full list.

Volkswagen Caddy

The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi tops the list, with its TDI320 diesel variants consuming a claimed 4.9L/100km on the combined cycle.

Like some others on this list, the Caddy is available in commercial van and people mover configurations. The latter models bear the Maxi designation, and they’re offered with either a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

All petrol models consume a claimed 6.2L/100km, and they’re $2000 cheaper than their diesel equivalents. The range starts at $52,290 before on-roads for the base TSI220 Maxi and extends to $64,090 before on-roads for the TDI320 California Maxi.

The range is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and all models are fed by a 50-litre fuel tank.

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Kia Carnival

Australia’s best-selling people mover is the only vehicle here to be sold with a hybrid powertrain, which consumes a claimed 5.8L/100km.

The hybrid powertrain is only available in the most expensive GT-Line variant, priced at $76,210 before on-roads. It uses a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, mated with a six-speed automatic featuring an integrated electric motor.

All other models are powered by either a 3.5-litre petrol V6 or a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. Petrol models consume a claimed 9.6L/100km and drink 91 RON unleaded petrol, while diesel versions drink 6.5L/100km.

The range starts at $50,150 before on-roads for the base V6, while all Carnivals drink from a 72-litre tank and are covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

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Volkswagen Caravelle

The list’s second entry from the Volkswagen van family is the Caravelle, which consumes a claimed 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle.

It’s sold in one TDI340 Trendline variant, which is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. It’s mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sending power to the front wheels only.

The Caravelle is priced at $69,290 before on-roads, matching the price of the base Volkswagen Multivan. It’s covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and drinks its fuel from an 80-litre tank.

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Volkswagen Multivan

The Multivan is the final Volkswagen on this list, and three of its cheaper variants consume a claimed 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle.

Those variants are the non-four-wheel drive TDI340 Comfortline variants, which are powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine found in the Caravelle.

4Motion all-wheel drive variants bump fuel economy figures to 7.6L/100km, with TDI340 models ranging in price from $69,290 to $78,290 before on-road costs.

Three Multivan variants are also available with a more powerful TDI450 engine, with fuel economy figures ranging from 7.0L/100km to 7.9L/100km depending on the variant. All three come at a premium of between $95,690 and $98,690 before on-roads.

The Multivan range is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. All models drink diesel from an 80-litre tank, except the Comfortline SWB which has a 70-litre tank.

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Hyundai Staria

Hyundai’s unique Staria ranks towards the bottom of this list, with turbo-diesel variants consuming a claimed 8.2L/100km.

There are three variants offering petrol or diesel power. More economical diesel vehicles are powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, and they feature all-wheel drive as standard.

Variants with the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine are available with front-wheel drive, and require 91 RON unleaded petrol. The range starts at $49,500 before on-roads for the base petrol Staria and extends to $67,500 before on-roads for the flagship turbo-diesel Highlander.

Hyundai backs the Staria with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and all models utilise a 75-litre tank regardless of fuel type. This is another vehicle with a commercial van version, which wear the Staria Load nameplate.

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LDV Mifa

Rounding out the list is the LDV Mifa, which is only available with petrol power and consumes a claimed 9.3L/100km on the combined cycle.

Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which sends power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

There are three variants in the Mifa range, which are priced between $53,990 and $72,990 drive-away. LDV doesn’t quote a minimum fuel type recommendation, but given its turbo powertrain we’d suggest 95 RON premium unleaded petrol is a safe choice.

All variants drink petrol from a 75-litre fuel tank, while the range is covered by a seven-year, 200,000 kilometre warranty.

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