EU MPG Stats Off By Up To 53%
In the real world, cars hardly ever deliver their official government fuel economy ratings. This is still the case in the U.S., where testing procedures were revised to better reflect Joe Blow's lead foot, but it's even more true in the European Union. To prove the point, Autobild recently tested a number of cars in [their idea of] real-life driving conditions. Their circuit consisted of 54 km on the autobahn, 61 km on highways and 45 km of city driving. The cars were driven speedily but not hard– never above 75 mph. The cars tested were up to 53% thirstier than rated (and advertised). Some examples:
Audi RS4 Avant 420HP
BMW M5 507HP
BMW 118d Diesel
Ford C-Max Diesel 109HP
Honda Civic Hybrid 95HP
Lexus RX400h Hybrid 211HP
Mercedes ML350 272HP
Toyota Aygo 68HP
Toyota Prius 78HP
More by Martin Schwoerer
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I think that the large differences in mileage of the hybrid and small cars are due to the fact that getting good milage is hard… but possible. The hybrids and diesel mileage numbers represent a potential mileage if driven well. Whereas the big monster 400+ hp engines will get low mileage no matter how you drive.
This isn’t really that much of news. The Prius mileage is 54.7 mpg and 39.2mpg for Autobild. People have been reporting that kind of difference with the EPA figures for a while now.
No mater what is thrown up there… results will vary.
FunkyD: you got it. Lack of space prohibited me to post the MPG numbers that I had calculated, but here they are: Audi RS4 Avant 420 HP Rated 17.4 MPG Test 16.8 MPG = +3.7% BMW M5 507 HP Rated 15.9 MPG Test 15.5 MPG = +2.7% BMW 118d Rated 52.3 MPG Test 38 MPG = +38% Ford C-Max Diesel 109 HP Rated 48 MPG Test 35.1 MPG = +37% Honda Civic Hybrid 95 HP Rated 51.1 MPG Test 35.6 MPG = +43.5% Lexus RX400h Hybrid 211 HP Rated 29 MPG Test 19.6 MPG = +48% Mercedes ML350 272 HP Rated 20.1 MPG Test 15.1 MPG = +33% Toyota Aygo 68 HP Rated 51.1 Test 38.6 = +32.6% Toyota Prius 78 HP Rated 54.7 MPG Test 39.2 MPG = +39.5%
virages: I disagree. I measured mileage on my three vehicles, both at 55mph and 85mph. I observed the following: F-350 SD (diesel): mileage increased from 12mpg to 20mpg F-250 (V8 gas): mileage increased from 9mpg to 14mpg MazdaSpeed3: mileage increased from 23mpg to 31mpg All three of these vehicles (diesel, V8 gas, and turbo 4) saw somewhere around a 50% increase in mileage by driving more carefully. It may be true that the driving profile that gets you the best mileage from a hybrid is *different* than that of a non-hybrid. But all vehicles benefit *substantially* from driving more conservatively.
I was watching the MPG meter (and every-five-minute MPG tabulator) on my Prius during a trip to & from downstate Michigan last weekend, and noted the following: Between 58 and 74 mph indicated, the MPG dropped AT LEAST 10 miles per gallon - from 52 mpg on the MPG tabulator (which measures overall mileage over a 5 minute period) and to 42 mpg at 70-74 mph. I guess I should not complain - it is a 24% increase in consumption, for a 28% increase in speed. I'm kind of spoiled, living in an area an hour away from 70 mph roads. I generally see pretty excellent mileage with my Prius. Zip up to speed (often faster than slug-o-matic SUV's and pickups with lots of mass and inertia to move along), back completely off the go-pedal at my designated speed, feather the go-pedal to maintain.... and watch the MPG go upity up up UP. AND stay there. An old buddy of mine (a speed-demon/tailgating-demon and road-rage demon) was complaining and whining about his Chevy SUV getting 13 mpg last night on the phone.... I made him feel "better" when I informed him that the new Prius is breaking in well, and nearly to the MPG of the '05. Overall, in the mid 40's to low 50's, depending upon a lot of variables (as always).