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Popular vehicles are using up to 31% more fuel in Australian conditions compared to what’s on the sticker – meaning some drivers could be paying hundreds of dollars per year more for fuel than expected.
The Australian Automobile Association has today released its fourth batch of test results from its Real World Testing Program, bringing the total number of vehicles tested to 58.
The program, which is supported by the Federal Government, rigorously tests popular car models’ fuel efficiency in real-world conditions, comparing the results to those achieved in the laboratory and put on the sticker.
Of the 58 vehicles tested so far, 53% have been found to use more fuel in the real world than in the lab.
The Suzuki Swift’s real-world fuel-efficiency result was 31% above its laboratory result – it uses 6.3L per 100km in Australian conditions, versus the advertised 4.8L per 100km.
For a Swift driver doing the Australian average of 12,100km per year, that means they’re paying approximately $344 more for fuel each year than they would be if the car performed as the sticker said.
The Mazda CX-5 was found to use 15% more fuel than advertised – 7.9L per 100km rather than 6.9L as found in the lab.
Further, 21 of the 58 cars tested produced on-road emissions that exceeded current or upcoming Australian regulatory lab limits for toxic tailpipe emissions.
RAA Mobility Expert Mark Borlace said the real-world results for the more than 50 vehicles was arming consumers with the most accurate information before purchasing a car.
“With cost-of-living rising and consumers becoming more environmentally conscious, fuel efficiency is a huge factor for a lot of people when it comes to buying a new car,” Mr Borlace said.
“Cars have their fuel efficiency tested in a lab before they hit the market, but how they perform in real-world, Australian conditions can be very different.
“If you’re in the market for a new car and want to know how its fuel efficiency stacks up under real-world driving conditions, we’d encourage everyone to check the results of the Real World Testing Program.
“We commend the Federal Government for their support of this program, and the AAA for their ongoing work delivering it.
“It’s giving consumers more accurate information to help them save money and reduce their carbon footprint.”
The full list of results can be viewed at https://realworld.org.au/