Australia (Commonwealth)_
In the inaugural phase of the Australian Automobile Association’s (AAA) comprehensive $14 million Commonwealth-funded fuel-economy and emissions testing initiative, focused on small to medium SUVs, mixed outcomes have surfaced. The AAA, representing prominent state motoring clubs including NRMA, RACV, and RACQ, among others, disclosed findings from the initial nine assessments, revealing a notable deviation from the government fuel-economy label affixed to vehicle windscreens.
A significant revelation from the testing is that approximately three-quarters of the vehicles examined exhibited fuel consumption exceeding the officially stipulated rates based on laboratory testing. The discrepancy between claimed and real-world fuel efficiency was particularly pronounced in small to medium SUVs. Among the vehicles scrutinized, six models registered higher fuel consumption than the officially listed figures. Four of these demonstrated a marginal deviation, within 2.5 per cent of the advertised data, while the remaining two exhibited a more substantial 8 to 13 per cent disparity.
The surprising aspect of the findings was the performance of the GWM Haval Jolion, Hyundai Tucson, and Nissan X-Trail, which showcased lower fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions than indicated by laboratory tests. Notably, all three vehicles remained within a 2.5 per cent margin of the official figures. Delving into specifics, the GWM Haval Jolion utilized 7.9 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres, surpassing the claimed figure of 8.1L/100km. Similarly, the Hyundai Tucson and Nissan X-Trail exhibited real-world fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km and 7.3L/100km, respectively, in contrast to their advertised values.
However, the study extended beyond fuel consumption, uncovering instances where several vehicles surpassed their declared emissions outputs when driven on actual roads. Of note, the AAA intends to rigorously assess 200 vehicles over the next four years, allocating an average cost of $70,000 per vehicle for this comprehensive real-world testing initiative.
For a detailed breakdown of the results, interested parties can visit www.realworld.org.au.
