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 |