For example, the Honda Insight can average 64.2 miles per gallon and has emissions of 101g/km. Not bad for a five seater with plenty of room in the boot.

However, there are also many new diesels and even petrol conventional cars that can get great mileage figures. The emissions have also reduced a lot in recent years, as car engine technology has been improved to meet with tighter legislation regarding CO2 emissions. The mileage you can get from a car depends on its size, of course, as well as the age of the car. An estate car will generally get fewer miles to the gallon compared with a supermini.

But for most people with families, a supermini simply isn’t a big enough vehicle. Some mid-sized conventional cars can still get good mileage figures. For instance, the Honda Civic 2012 2.2l diesel can achieve 53.3mpg and has CO2 emissions of 139g/km.

Similarly, the third generation Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi diesel has the same fuel economy and emissions. The mileage has been improved by the introduction of stop-start technology. This means that the engine cuts out automatically in a standstill queue, and restarts automatically when the driver lifts their foot off the brake pedal and is ready to move off again.

However much you want to increase the miles you get per gallon, you might not be in the position to buy a new car at the moment, in which case you’ll have to make adjustments to your driving style to increase the mileage you get from your current motor.

Bear in mind the following when you grab your keys and head for the door:

Change route

If you find you’re always sitting in traffic, this is really bad for fuel consumption – unless you happen to have a car with stop start technology. The best course of action is to find a different way to get from A to B, and to travel at quieter times. This isn’t always possible but you might want to find out if you can change your work hours a little to avoid peak traffic times.

Take it easy

Don’t be an aggressive driver or you’ll end up stressed out about wasting money on fuel as well. Every time you accelerate too quickly or slam on the brakes you are wasting fuel. Instead, keep cool and pay attention to what’s happening ahead of you, so you can accelerate and brake gently. Your passengers will appreciate this change in your driving style too.

Empty the boot

Whatever you’re carrying in the car will add to your fuel consumption. Each extra pound of weight makes it harder work for the engine, so have a spring clean of the boot of the car, and you’ll end up needing to refuel less often. In the same vein, driving a car with the correct tyre pressures also uses less fuel, so make sure you check your tyres regularly.

These simple tips will help increase the mileage you get from your car, whatever you drive. This is as relevant for a Honda Insight as for a Range Rover, although of course, you’ve got a better starting point with the Insight.

One of Soichiro Honda’s core founding principles for the company which still bears his name was that it should lead the way in technical innovation.

This wasn’t just something that was said. It truly was something that was actually done – and continues to be done to this day.

Consider a few facts; Honda was the first company to introduce a concept for America that did away with the need for catalytic convertors whilst the cars were still able to pass tough Federal emissions laws. The co-called ‘CVCC’ combustion chamber was introduced for the first generation Civic, way back in 1972.

Then during the 80s Honda introduced variable valve time and electronic lift control.

The company’s legendary founder, Soichiro Honda, died on August 5, 1991. But his innovative legacy was certainly to live on.

In the 90s, the company he founded introduced the NSX supercar, with a powerful VTEC engine, and aluminium suspension the car was simply revolutionary. But with zero emission laws looming, Honda turned its attentions to development of electric and hybrid engines and we are seeing the results of those advancements to this day in cars like the Insight and Jazz.

The latest version of Honda’s most famous car, the 2012 Honda Civic is also packed full of Honda’s innovative technologies. There are simply too many to mention here. But when you consider, for example, that the Civic 2012 includes ECO assist which tells you exactly when to change gear and even changes the colour of the speedometer from blue to green to help you – you’ll see what I mean.

Add to that the peerless aerodynamics, the ability for drivers to select the ECON button which changes settings such as throttle mapping and the air-con system, to further maximise economy – and you soon see that the car really is cutting edge – just as the founding Father would have wanted it.