5 least fuel-efficient vehicles CAR Magazine tested in 2025

Car Magazine has rounded up the five least fuel-efficient vehicles it tested in 2025.

January 2, 2026

CAR Magazine 2 minutes read

Car Magazine previously rounded up the five most fuel-efficient vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2025. Now we take a look at the cars that proved the least economical on our standardised 100km mixed-use (urban and motorway) fuel route.

5. Aston Martin Vantage Coupé: 13.9l/100km (12.1l/100km claimed)

Starting off the list is the Aston Martin Vantage Coupé, which we tested for the January 2025 Performance Issue of CAR magazine. The Vantage Coupé is powered by a 4.0 litre V8 twin-turbo petrol engine churning out 489kW and 800N.m, sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Although one of the least fuel-efficient cars we tested in 2025, the Vantage Coupé was one of the highest-scoring, fastest-accelerating, and fastest-braking vehicles we tested in 2025.

4. Jeep Wrangler Limited 2.0T Rubicon: 14.0l/100km (11.9l/100km claimed)

The sole vehicle powered by a four-cylinder mill on this list, the Jeep Wrangler’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 200kW and 400N.m, sent to all four corners via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Jeep Wrangler was tested in the May 2025 issue of CAR magazine.

3. Ford Mustang GT Fastback: 14.62l/100km (12.8l/100km claimed)

Image: Peet Mocke

The Ford Mustang GT Fastback, tested in the January 2025 issue of CAR Magazine, is powered by the Blue Oval brand’s long-standing Coyote 5.0-litre V8 engine, producing 328kW and 540N.m of torque.

2. Ford Mustang Dark Horse: 14.87l/100km (12.8l/100km claimed)

Image: Ford

The pinnacle model in Ford South Africa’s Mustang portfolio, the Dark Horse is equipped with the same Coyote engine as its GT sibling, though gains an additional 6kW in SA. We evaluated the Mustang Dark Horse in the March issue of CAR magazine.

1. Land Rover Defender Octa Edition One: 15.70l/100km (13.5l/100km claimed)

2025 Land Rover Defender Octa Edition One

Image: Peet Mocke

Topping the list as the least fuel-efficient vehicle tested by CAR in 2025, the Land Rover Defender Octa (tested in Edition One guise) is the most hardcore derivative of the new-generation Defender. The Octa, which we tested in the November issue of CAR magazine, is equipped with a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 467kW and 750N.m – the latter increasing to 800N.m when Dynamic Launch is engaged.

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