Australia (Commonwealth)_
In a recent program conducted by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and funded by the federal government, alarming disparities between laboratory-calculated fuel efficiency claims and real-world on-road performance have been unveiled. The study, which focused on passenger cars, small and medium SUVs, and larger people movers, discovered that cars driven in Australia consume up to 20% more petrol than manufacturers assert.
The testing, carried out in Victoria’s Geelong region in December 2023, included a comprehensive evaluation of 13 vehicles under strictly controlled conditions aligned with European Union legislation. This legislation aims to ensure repeatability of fuel consumption and CO2 results while minimizing the impact of human factors such as driving style and changing traffic conditions.
Of the 13 vehicles tested, seven demonstrated fuel consumption levels within 5% of the manufacturers’ claims. However, a concerning finding revealed that five cars exceeded their lab results by significant margins, ranging from 9% to 20%, when subjected to real-world road conditions. Conversely, one vehicle outperformed its claimed efficiency by 7%.
The AAA identified several vehicles as the worst offenders in the second round of testing. The BMW X3, a 2021 model SUV, exhibited the largest discrepancy, requiring 20% more fuel (8.9 liters per 100km) in real-world testing compared to the manufacturer’s reported 7.4 liters per 100km from lab tests. The MG3, a compact car model from 2023, was found to use 19% more fuel than its mandated lab result of 6.7 liters per 100km. Audi’s Q5 SUV, a 2022 model, consumed 17% more petrol in real-world conditions (5.6 liters per 100km) than claimed in the lab test (4.8 liters per 100km). Toyota’s Yaris Cross Hybrid, a 2021 model, used 12% more petrol than its claimed efficiency of 3.8 liters per 100km.
Conversely, the Kia Carnival, a 2023 model, showcased improved performance by using 7% less fuel on the road (6 liters per 100km) than its mandated lab result. The testing also extended to pollution levels, with four out of the 13 vehicles exceeding Australian regulatory limits for lab tests. Notably, the MG3’s on-road carbon monoxide emissions were found to be 85% higher than the regulated lab test limit.
AAA Managing Director, Michael Bradley, emphasized that the real-world testing program offers consumers greater transparency, enabling them to make informed decisions. He highlighted the potential for significant savings, stating, “When comparing vehicles, consumers cannot assume that better lab performance will translate into real-world savings.”
Bradley anticipates that the program will influence consumer preferences, driving down demand for models that overpromise and underdeliver. He emphasized the broader impact on the environment, stating that this information could assist new car buyers in saving hundreds of dollars annually while contributing to the improvement of the light vehicle fleet’s overall environmental impact.
The government-backed testing scheme was implemented in the wake of the 2015 Volkswagen scandal, which revealed the manufacturer had misled consumers with incorrect claims of lower emissions. BMW, MG, Audi, and Toyota were contacted for comment regarding the recent findings.
This second round of real-world testing follows the initial tranche, which exposed fuel consumption rates up to 13% higher than lab tests, underscoring the ongoing need for rigorous evaluation and transparency in the automotive industry.
