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What Car? launches true mpg

What Car? launches true mpg

What Car? is today launching True MPG, an exciting new initiative to give Britain’s car buyers the most realistic fuel economy information possible.

What Car? True MPG, in association with Tesco Petrol Filling Stations, tests cars on real roads in exactly the same conditions that every motorist faces every day.

Until now, the only information that’s been available is the car makers’ own figures, which are determined under EU law and are conducted in laboratory conditions on rolling roads. Not any more. Car buyers can simply log on to the What Car website and work out the fuel economy they can expect to get from their next new car using our exclusive True MPG tools.

“With rising fuel prices, the miles-per-gallon issue is high on every motorist’s agenda. Countless car buyers are frustrated that they don’t match the official government fuel figures. True MPG will allow motorists to select a car personalised to their driving needs and budget. We hope that it will become invaluable in the complex and emotional car-buying process,” said What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett.

What Car? tests the vehicles using a portable emissions-measurement system when the engines have reached normal operating temperature. The vehicles are then driven by two experienced engineers over a variety of roads including motorway, A- and B-roads, and through towns and villages. The data from the testing considers driving style, changes in altitude, ambient temperature and humidity and engine temperature.

The state-of-the-art testing equipment is manufactured by Sensors Inc and is well proven globally. It has been used by vehicle and equipment manufacturers for both product development and testing.

 

 

Testing in more detail

The principle component of the testing equipment is a gas analyser, which measures carbon dioxide output (from which the g/km figure is derived). The equipment simultaneously captures carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide and optionally total hydrocarbons. From the carbon dioxide output and knowledge of the exact fuel in the tank, the fuel consumption in miles per gallon can be calculated via the mass balance method with a high degree of accuracy.

Throughout each test, the output of each gas is captured at intervals of one second, together with the engine performance readings from the engine control unit via the CANBUS. Further, a high-grade GPS unit and weather probe capture these readings at the same frequency.

What Car? True MPG

Combined average miles per gallon test figures

CAR TESTED  GOVT MPG TRUE MPG
Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDm 140 Lusso 62.8mpg 58.9mpg
Audi A1 1.4 TFSi Sport 53.3mpg 46.9mpg
Audi A4 2.0 TDIe 136 SE Technik 65.7mpg 54.3mpg
Audi A6 2.0 TDi SE 57.6mpg 56.1mpg
Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 245 quattro SE 47.9mpg 43.4mpg
BMW 118d SE 62.8mpg 47.2mpg
BMW 320d Sport 61.4mpg 54.8mpg
BMW X1 sDrive20d Efficient Dynamics 62.8mpg 50.8mpg
BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport 50.4mpg 42.2mpg
BMW 520d SE Efficient Dynamics 62.8mpg 54.5mpg
Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge 58.9mpg 44.3mpg
Ford Fiesta 1.25 82 Zetec 50.4mpg 42.3mpg
Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Econetic 78.5mpg 62.1mpg
Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 115 Zetec 67.3mpg 43.1mpg
Ford Focus 1.6T 150 Ecoboost Titanium 47.1mpg 35.1mpg
Ford Focus Estate 1.6 TDCi 115 Titanium 67.3mpg 42.3mpg
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec 53.3mpg 42.8mpg
Ford S-Max 1.6T 160 Ecoboost Titanium S/S 40.4mpg 29.8mpg
Ford S-Max 2.2 TDCi 200 Titanium 42.8mpg 39.6mpg
Honda Civic 2.2 i-DTEC ES 67.3mpg 59.0mpg
Hyundai i10 1.2 Classic 61.4mpg 46.5mpg
Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi Active 76.3mpg 54.4mpg
Hyundai i40 Tourer 1.7 CRDi 136 Blue Drive Style 62.8mpg 53.5mpg
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Style five-seat 41.5mpg 40.4mpg
Jaguar XF 2.2D 190 Luxury 52.3mpg 42.1mpg
Jaguar XK Convertible 5.0 V8 25.2mpg 24.9mpg
Kia Optima 1.7 CRDi 1 57.6mpg 49.3mpg
Kia Picanto 1.0 2 67.3mpg 41.2mpg
Kia Rio 1.25 1 Air 56.5mpg 46.4mpg
Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi Ecodynamics 1 88.3mpg 70.6mpg
Kia Sportage 1.6 GDi 1 2WD 44.1mpg 40.7mpg
Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 HSE 32.2mpg 30.7mpg
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2.2 SD4 190 Prestige 5dr auto 43.5mpg 36.4mpg
Mazda MX-5 1.8i SE 39.8mpg 35.1mpg
Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI Blue Efficiency Elegance 64.2mpg 57.5mpg
Mercedes-Benz S350L CDI Bluetec 36.7mpg 37.3mpg
Mini 1.6D Cooper 74.3mpg 52.5mpg
Mini Convertible 1.6 Cooper 49.6mpg 40.1mpg
Mini Countryman 1.6T Cooper S All4 42.2mpg 38.6mpg
Nissan Micra 1.2 DIG-S Shiro 65.7mpg 44.1mpg
Nissan Note 1.4 N-tec+ 47.9mpg 44.5mpg
Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi N-tec 2WD (without stop-start) 57.6mpg 49.5mpg
Peugeot 107 1.0 Allure 65.7mpg 52.3mpg
Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Active 38.7mpg 36.5mpg
Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 104g 70.6mpg 46.0mpg
Peugeot 5008 1.6 HDi 112 Access 51.4mpg 36.9mpg
Renault Grand Scénic 1.6 dCi 130 Dynamique TomTom S/S 64.2mpg 48.6mpg
Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 170 SE 48.7mpg 44.1mpg
Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-CAT 150 T4 auto 45.6mpg 43.3mpg
Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i T Spirit (pre-face-lift) 70.6mpg 52.2mpg
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2i VVT Ecoflex SXi S/S 5dr 51.4mpg 50.8mpg
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 2.0 CDTi 165 SE S/S 54.3mpg 52.4mpg
Volkswagen Eos 2.0 TDI 140 Bluemotion Tech Exclusive DSG 53.3mpg 50.7mpg
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi Match 45.6mpg 43.3mpg
Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion 74.3mpg 51.8mpg
Volkswagen CC 2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Technology GT DSG 51.4mpg 50.3mpg
Volkswagen Jetta 1.6 TDI 105 Bluemotion Technology S 67.3mpg 48.4mpg
Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 Bluemotion Technology  TDi 140 PS 62.8mpg 49.6mpg
Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 TDI 140 Bluemotion Tech SE 60.1mpg 54.8mpg
Volkswagen Polo 1.4 85 Match 47.9mpg 34.2mpg
Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 105 S 55.4mpg 47.2mpg
Volkswagen Up 1.0 75 Black 60.1mpg 47.1mpg
Volvo S60 1.6 DRIVe 115 SE S/S 65.7mpg 50.1mpg
Volvo XC60 2.0 D3 DRIVe ES 2WD S/S 49.6mpg 38.3mpg
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Author: News Editor

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