Skip advert
Advertisement

Caterham Seven review – the iconic British track car is still going strong - Caterham Seven MPG and running costs

Put simply, the Caterham Seven is one of evo's favourite cars

Evo rating
RRP
from £17,725
  • The absolute definition of a sports car
  • Can be pricey; not the last word in usability

You’d probably not choose a Caterham Seven as an economy car, but for something with the potential for such huge performance, they can be surprisingly affordable to run.

Caterham only quotes fuel economy for the basic Seven 160, mainly because it’s absolutely remarkable – 57.6mpg combined, with only 114g/km of CO2. The latter means an initial bill of £160 for VED (something not even the frugal 1.5-litre Mazda MX-5 can manage, with 139g/km and a first year bill of £200), with annual VED of £140 thereafter. That economy-car engine really pays dividends here.

You can expect the four-cylinder Sevens to be less economical, though on a steady cruise you shouldn’t expect too many shocks at the pumps from most of them. Better will be the way you don’t chew through tyres or brakes as you might from a heavier performance car, and with so few toys in the cabin, there’s little to actually go wrong in the first place.

Advertisement - Article continues below

As a car from a small-volume manufacturer though, there’s still the potential for little, niggling faults and the occasional failure to proceed, so factor this into your buying decision and set aside a little money for unexpected costs. On the plus side, slow depreciation means you'll not take too great a hit when you come to sell up.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
News

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV

If you have to have an SUV, a Stelvio QV is acceptable. Now it's being heavily discounted.
8 Jul 2025
MST Mk1 Sports is a more affordable less extreme Ford Escort recreation
MST Ford Escort front
News

MST Mk1 Sports is a more affordable less extreme Ford Escort recreation

Costing a tenth of most made-new classics, the MST Mk1 Sports is comparatively accessible
8 Jul 2025
Mini JCW 2025 review – too feisty for its own good
Mini JCW – front
Reviews

Mini JCW 2025 review – too feisty for its own good

The petrol-powered JCW lives on – for now. But in its latest incarnation, has this supermini survivor become too hardcore?
6 Jul 2025