convertible2004–present

Vauxhall Tigra — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025

A compact two-seat coupe-convertible with a folding metal roof, based on the Corsa platform.

The second-generation Vauxhall Tigra (Tigra TwinTop) was a popular two-seat sports car featuring a retractable hardtop roof. Built on the Corsa C platform, it combines low running costs with open-air styling.

Under the hood, drivers could choose between simple 1.4 or 1.8-litre petrol engines or the highly frugal 1.3-litre CDTi diesel. The diesel is incredibly economical but quite rare in the UK market.

The lightweight nature of the Tigra ensures good fuel economy, with petrol models easily achieving 40 MPG real-world and the diesel version pushing past 50 MPG under normal driving cycles.

TL;DR

40 MPG

Real-world petrol

53 MPG

Real-world diesel

45L

Tank capacity

£61.56

Full tank (petrol)

15.5p

Per mile (petrol)

Real-World Fuel Economy: The Vauxhall Tigra achieves an estimated 40 MPG (petrol) and 53 MPG (diesel) in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.

Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 45-litre tank completely costs approximately £61.56 (petrol) or £63.95 (diesel) at average UK fuel price rates.

Fuel economy at a glance

40

Real-world MPG

Petrol

46.3

Official WLTP

Petrol

53

Real-world MPG

Diesel

61.4

Official WLTP

Diesel

Why is real-world MPG lower? Official WLTP figures are tested under laboratory conditions — smooth roads, controlled temperature, no A/C, no passengers. Real-world driving cuts efficiency by 10–15%. WorthThePump applies a 12% penalty to give a realistic estimate.

Annual fuel costs by mileage

Annual mileagePetrolDiesel
5,000 miles/yr£777£609
7,400 miles/yr(UK average)£1151£902
10,000 miles/yr£1555£1219
15,000 miles/yr£2332£1828
20,000 miles/yr£3109£2438
Full tank (45L)£61.56£63.95
Cost per mile15.5p12.2p

Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.

How does the Tigra compare?

Tips to get better MPG from your Tigra

Maintain the folding roof mechanisms to prevent misalignment which can disrupt airflow.

Keep speed down when cruising top-down to minimize cabin turbulence and aerodynamic drag.

For the diesel version, avoid short town trips that can clog the exhaust system.

Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?

In a Vauxhall Tigra achieving ~40 MPG real-world, if you fill 36 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:

£3.60

Gross saving on fuel

£0.47

Cost of 3-mile detour

£3.13

Net saving ✓

You could drive up to 23 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.

Calculate for your exact situation

Popular variants

1.4 16v 901.3 CDTi 70

Frequently asked questions

What is the real-world MPG of the Vauxhall Tigra?

The Vauxhall Tigra achieves approximately 40 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 46.3 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around 53 MPG real-world.

How much does it cost to fill a Vauxhall Tigra?

The Vauxhall Tigra has a fuel tank of 45 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £61.56. Diesel costs approximately £63.95 for a full tank.

What is the annual fuel cost for a Vauxhall Tigra?

At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Vauxhall Tigra costs approximately £1151 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1555. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.

Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Vauxhall Tigra?

In a Vauxhall Tigra doing ~40 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 36-litre fill nets approximately £3.13 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 23 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.

How much does the Vauxhall Tigra cost per mile in fuel?

The Vauxhall Tigra costs approximately 15.5p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £4.65 per day in fuel.

What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Vauxhall Tigra?

The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Vauxhall Tigra is 46.3 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.

Related guides

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