Finding the balance between speed and eco-friendly when buying a new car

 Speed and economy might seem like attributes that are diametrically opposed, but this list proves you can find cars that mix the two beautifully. Every one of the following motors is capable of over 40mpg yet accelerates from 0-60mph in less than 7.0 seconds.As with any major purchase it pays to do your research, so if you’re wondering ‘how much is my car worth?’ find out via an online car valuation tool to help you get the best price for it and give you the best start point for your budget. It’s also worth taking a peek at the DVLA site to check the road tax of the vehicles you are considering and check it’s reasonable.

BMW 335d Touring

 While it should come as no surprise that a turbocharged six-cylinder car with over 300hp and four-wheel drive can do 0-60mph in less than 5.0 seconds, that it could also be impressively economical may very well be. The 335d’s secret is simple; its engine is an efficient diesel that is capable of a claimed 49mpg.

Ford Fiesta ST

 The ST isn’t your normal Fiesta thanks to a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with nearly 200hp. That helps it crack 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds, while its diminutive size means it’ll still do a claimed 47mpg. t’s not just quick in a straight line either; the ST is also huge amounts of fun in the corners, beating many pricier rivals.

Porsche Panamera Hybrid

 An economical Porsche? Yes, really. The Panamera Hybrid combines a big petrol V6 with an electric motor and sizeable battery pack to give zero emissions electric running and a performance boost, too. Plug it in regularly and you may even beat the 91mpg claimed economy figure and it’ll still do 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz SLC 250d

 A diesel roadster might seem a bit odd, but it combines wind in your hair motoring with muscular performance and impressive economy. How impressive? Think 70mpg according to official figures whilst still managing 0-60mph in only 6.4 seconds.Sports cars don’t come any cheaper to run than this.

Peugeot 208 GTi

 Although the 208 GTi isn’t quite so much fun to drive as the Fiesta ST, it does have even more impressive stats. Despite being quicker from 0-60mph (6.3 seconds), its 52mpg economy figure trumps the Fiesta’s 47mpg. Thank a powerful but efficient 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine for those figures.

Audi SQ5

 We can’t ignore the current craze for SUVs, with the Audi SQ5 blending speed and efficiency perfectly. Its 3.0-litre V6 diesel has over 300hp which combined with four-wheel drive, obviously, means the SQ5 does 0-60mph in less than 5.0 seconds. Even so, this hefty SUV can still manage 42mpg if the official figures are to be believed.

Lotus Elise Sport

 You might be wondering how a rakish mid-engined sports car with a petrol engine could be on this list, but the Elise’s seriously low weight is the key factor here. Weighing significantly less than 1000kg, it only needs a 1.8-litre Toyota engine to scamper from 0-60mph in only 4.2 seconds. Even with that rapid acceleration, it’ll still manage 45 mpg.