Official vs Real World Fuel Economy

merlin · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:55

Who's up for a little test?

Starting tomorrow - reset trip/economy computers and don't touch them.

Thursday next week we report our average combined MPG and compare them to the manufacturers official MPG.

Is a week long enough to iron things out so everyone has done a bit of city driving/bit of motorway etc?

merlin · 18 Mar 2011 at 10:06

Right - full 7 days done.

Been on the motorway once for 200 miles, total mileage for the week 430 miles.

Actual = 39.3mpg. Official = 49.6mpg.

merlin · 18 Mar 2011 at 10:38

On the motorway I can pull in the official 58mpg without too much trouble - but that goes straight down the pan on the 30/40mph roads where the car doesn't pull in anywhere near the official.

With the price differential at the nozzle petrol to diesel I'm half thinking there wouldn't be that much additional cost to switch back to petrol - I need to do the sums.

merlin · 18 Mar 2011 at 10:40

Jonnycoupe said:
They never claim that you will get those figures though.

They do by inference.

merlin · 18 Mar 2011 at 10:42

Jonnycoupe said:
What sort of speed would 58mpg cruising be?

65mph.

merlin · 18 Mar 2011 at 10:43

Amazes me how the advertising standards council haven't got involved.