A petrol price of TZS 3,796 per litre changes how you compare cars. A small hatchback may cost less to fuel, but a hybrid crossover can offer more space and clearance for your daily routes.
This comparison uses official Japanese fuel-economy figures and one clear calculation. If you are searching for fuel efficient cars in Tanzania 2026, this guide focuses on petrol cost per kilometre, not full ownership cost. It covers the Toyota Aqua, Honda Fit Hybrid, Nissan Note e-POWER, Toyota Prius and Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid. The figures are useful for comparing vehicles, but they are not promises about every Dar es Salaam journey.
Quick Answer
- The Toyota Aqua has a representative figure of 37.0 km/L JC08, or about TZS 10,259 per 100 km; confirm the exact stock variant.
- The selected Honda Fit Hybrid F Package Comfort Edition should not be assigned a precise fuel figure until an accessible official Honda specification source is confirmed.
- The Nissan Note e-POWER suits city driving, but its exact variant needs checking.
- The Toyota Yaris Cross uses more petrol, but offers better crossover practicality.
- Traffic, air-conditioning, tyres and vehicle condition can reduce real-world economy.
How Much Does Petrol Cost Per 100 Kilometres?
In September 2026, at TZS 3,796 per litre, a car returning 37.0 km/L costs about TZS 10,259 in petrol per 100 kilometres. EWURA’s September 2026 petroleum-price notice lists this Dar es Salaam cap as effective from 2 September 2026 (EWURA, “Petroleum Product Pricing”, 2026). The calculation is simple:
Fuel cost per 100 km = petrol price ÷ official fuel economy × 100
EWURA publishes monthly regional price caps. A station may sell below the cap, but it should not charge above the applicable maximum. This article measures petrol cost only. It does not include purchase cost, import duty, customs clearance, maintenance, tyres or hybrid-system repairs.
JC08 is Japan’s older laboratory fuel-economy test cycle. WLTC is a newer test cycle covering urban, suburban and highway driving. Because the methods differ, their figures should not be treated as a controlled head-to-head ranking.
| Vehicle or figure |
Test cycle |
Petrol cost per 100 km |
Approx. cost over 20,000 km |
| Toyota Aqua, representative 37.0 km/L |
JC08 |
TZS 10,259 |
TZS 2.05 million |
| Honda Fit Hybrid F Package Comfort Edition |
Not included |
Not calculated |
Not calculated |
| Nissan Note e-POWER X, 34.0 km/L |
JC08 |
TZS 11,165 |
TZS 2.23 million |
| Toyota Yaris Cross 2WD Hybrid X, representative 30.8 km/L |
WLTC |
TZS 12,325 |
TZS 2.46 million |
| Illustrative car, 25.0 km/L |
Not specified |
TZS 15,184 |
TZS 3.04 million |
| Illustrative car, 20.0 km/L |
Not specified |
TZS 18,980 |
TZS 3.80 million |
These are indicative fuel costs, not total ownership costs. The table does not rank the Honda Fit or Toyota Prius because matching figures to their exact selected variants has not been completed.
Using the representative quoted figures, the Aqua saves roughly TZS 2,066 per 100 kilometres compared with a Yaris Cross 2WD Hybrid X. That becomes about TZS 413,000 over 20,000 kilometres, before grade differences and real-world conditions are considered.
The Aqua, Fit and Note figures use the older JC08 test cycle. The Yaris Cross figure uses WLTC, which combines urban, suburban and highway driving. The cycles are different, so this is an indicative comparison rather than a controlled test.
how fuel costs compare at the 2026 Dar es Salaam petrol price
Is the Toyota Aqua the Lowest-Fuel-Cost Choice for City Driving?
For the first-generation Japanese-market Aqua catalogue, a representative 37.0 km/L JC08 makes the Toyota Aqua a strong fuel-saving choice here. Toyota’s 2026 used-car catalogue lists first-generation Aqua variants from 33.8 to 38.0 km/L JC08, with 37.0 km/L applying to some grades and model years (Toyota, “Aqua Fuel Economy Information”, 2026). The selected vehicle’s exact grade should be confirmed before using 37.0 km/L for its cost.
2015 Toyota Aqua
The selected 2015 example is a five-seat NHP10 hatchback with a 1,500 cc hybrid system, 109,000 km and auction grade 4. The vehicle listing records these details (2015 Toyota Aqua in Tanzania). Toyota’s original technical information lists 1,496 cc, 74 PS from the petrol engine and a combined system output of 100 PS (Toyota, “TMC Launches Aqua in Japan”, 2011). Its exact catalogue grade should be confirmed before treating 37.0 km/L as this vehicle’s fuel figure.
At the quoted fuel figure, the Aqua costs about TZS 10,259 per 100 km. It suits commuters, couples and small households that spend much of the day in stop-start traffic. Regenerative braking and electric assistance can help in that setting.
The catch is clearance. If your route includes deep potholes, rough tracks or frequent upcountry travel, a low hatchback may not be the right fit. Check the auction sheet, battery condition, underbody, suspension and inspection notes before judging an older Aqua.
Does the Honda Fit Hybrid Offer Similar Economy With More Cabin Flexibility?
The selected Honda Fit Hybrid F Package Comfort Edition should not be assigned a precise fuel figure until an accessible official Honda specification source is confirmed. Without that figure, the Fit cannot be ranked fairly against the quoted Aqua, Note and Yaris Cross results.
2015 Honda Fit HV
2015 Honda Fit HV
The selected GP5 is a five-seat, five-door hybrid with a 1,500 cc engine, 52,700 km and auction grade 3.5. These details come from the Honda Fit vehicle listing. The earlier Honda technical link was not usable for verifying the fuel figure or the previously stated power-output figures, so those figures are not included here.
The Fit makes sense for city commuters and small families. Its compact body is easy to manoeuvre, while the flexible cabin can be more useful than the Aqua’s smaller interior. It still has low clearance, and the grade 3.5 example deserves careful condition checks.
Do not apply a generic catalogue figure to the selected F Package Comfort Edition until the exact grade and an accessible official Honda source are confirmed.
Honda Fit Hybrid listings in Tanzania
Is the Nissan Note e-POWER a Smooth City Alternative?
For the 2018 Japanese-market specification, the Nissan Note can be a strong urban choice, but the exact powertrain matters. Nissan lists 34.0 km/L JC08 for the e-POWER X specification, equal to about TZS 11,165 per 100 km at TZS 3,796 per litre (Nissan, “Note Technical Specification Sheet”, 2018).
2017 Nissan Note
The selected 2017 HE12 is a five-seat hybrid hatchback with a 1,200 cc engine, 72,000 km and auction grade 4. The vehicle listing identifies it as an e-POWER Medalist (2017 Nissan Note in Tanzania). That exact grade should be confirmed before applying the e-POWER X figure.
With e-POWER, the petrol engine generates electricity while an electric motor drives the wheels. You do not plug the vehicle into a charger. The result can feel smooth in traffic, especially when accelerating from low speeds.
Do not group ordinary petrol Notes with e-POWER models. Check the model code, variant, hybrid-system condition and inspection evidence. The Note suits city drivers, but local repair familiarity is also worth considering.
Toyota Prius Brings More Space, but Condition Matters More
The Toyota Prius is a larger hybrid benchmark, with the selected 2015 example showing 117,719 km, a 1,800 cc engine and auction grade 3.5. Its larger body may provide a more practical cabin and luggage area than the smaller hatchbacks, but the exact space advantage depends on how you use the car.
2015 Toyota Prius
The listing uses the ZVW30 model code and records 99 PS, front-wheel drive and a five-seat sedan body. Its lower roofline and longer body may suit family use, but they are less convenient than a small hatchback in tight city parking.
The Prius is not ranked in the main fuel table because the exact grade for this ZVW30 example has not been matched here. In its 2015 specification document, Toyota publishes official ZVW30 figures of 30.4 and 32.6 km/L JC08, depending on specification, so a generic number should not be applied to this vehicle (Toyota, “Prius specifications”, 2015).
A 117,719 km hybrid deserves a closer look at battery performance, suspension, tyres, underbody condition and auction notes. More space can justify the choice, but the fuel figure alone should not decide it.
Toyota Yaris Cross Costs More to Fuel, but Adds Practicality
For the 2020 Japanese-market 2WD Hybrid X, Toyota lists 30.8 km/L WLTC. The Toyota Yaris Cross therefore costs about TZS 12,325 per 100 km in this calculation. Toyota gives that figure for the Japanese-market 2WD Hybrid X, while positioning the model as a compact SUV with useful luggage space (Toyota, “Toyota Rolls Out All-New Yaris Cross in Japan”, 2020).
2020 Toyota Yaris Cross
The selected 2020 vehicle is a 1,500 cc, 2WD hybrid with 34,000 km and auction grade 4.5. Its listing records these details (2020 Toyota Yaris Cross in Tanzania). Its M15A-FXE engine produces 91 PS, or 67 kW (Toyota, “Yaris Cross specification”, 2020), and the SUV body measures 4,180 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,590 mm high.
The Yaris Cross costs roughly TZS 2.46 million in petrol over 20,000 km at the quoted laboratory figure for a 2WD Hybrid X. That is more than the Aqua, but you get a higher driving position, more useful luggage packaging and a body better suited to buyers who dislike low hatchbacks.
Toyota’s 30.8 km/L figure applies to the 2WD Hybrid X, while the Hybrid G is listed at 30.2 km/L. Confirm the selected vehicle’s exact grade and drivetrain before applying either figure.
Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid listings
Which Car Fits Your Tanzanian Driving?
The Toyota Aqua has the lowest representative quoted figure here at 37.0 km/L JC08, while the Yaris Cross 2WD Hybrid X records 30.8 km/L WLTC and offers more SUV practicality. Because JC08 and WLTC use different test methods, this is not a definitive overall ranking. The best choice also depends on clearance, space, condition and import cost.
| Your priority |
Sensible direction |
| Lowest estimated petrol cost |
Toyota Aqua, subject to condition |
| Flexible compact cabin |
Honda Fit Hybrid |
| Smooth urban acceleration |
Nissan Note e-POWER |
| Higher seating and more clearance |
Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid |
| More cabin and luggage space |
Toyota Prius, subject to inspection |
| Frequent rough roads |
Prioritise clearance, tyres, suspension and condition |
| Lowest fuel cost |
Compare the quoted figure and exact test cycle |
Landed cost is the estimated total cost after shipping and import-related charges. It is different from the vehicle price and from fuel cost.
A 37.0 km/L rating does not make an older hybrid the cheapest ownership choice automatically. A vehicle with weak battery performance, poor suspension or a high landed cost can erase the benefit of a small fuel saving.
Actual Dar es Salaam consumption can also fall below laboratory figures. Traffic, air-conditioning, tyre pressure, road surface, vehicle load and driving style all matter. Which matters more to you, saving a little per kilometre or choosing a car that handles your roads comfortably?
How Should You Check the Real Import Cost?
The listed vehicle price is only one part of the decision. Check the exact variant, odometer, auction grade, inspection evidence and estimated landed cost before comparing cars by fuel economy.
The vehicle price covers the car, shipping and inspection, but import duty, VAT and other landed costs are separate. Each individual vehicle page should therefore be treated as the source for its own final estimate.
In the final comparison, Toyota Aqua cars for Tanzania, Honda Fit Hybrid vehicles, Nissan Note vehicles and Toyota Yaris Cross listings can be reviewed against their own inspection and landed-cost information. Carbarn provides Japan-owned vehicle listings, an official Japanese auction sheet, a Carbarn inspection report, EAA roadworthiness inspection, shipping to Dar es Salaam, customer support and payment through Japan, plus a dashboard for invoices, inspection sheets, certificates, bill of lading and vessel tracking. The buying process explains the next steps.
The Bottom Line
The Toyota Aqua is a likely fuel-cost leader among the representative figures, using Toyota’s 37.0 km/L JC08 figure, but its exact stock grade should be confirmed. The selected Honda Fit Hybrid remains unranked until its exact grade and an accessible official fuel-economy source are confirmed. The Nissan Note e-POWER offers smooth city driving, provided its exact variant is confirmed.
The Yaris Cross costs more to fuel, but its higher seating position and crossover layout may suit your roads and family better. Before deciding, compare the exact variant, auction grade, odometer, hybrid-system condition, inspection reports and estimated landed cost.
