Fifth Gear - Fuel Economy Test

[1100HondaCB]

I have to say, I am very surprised at the results and was expecting far different. However, the cars were driven fairly reasonably during the test, but I wonder how different the results would be if the cars were driven in town traffic with lots of stop-start manoeuvres and if the drivers drove them harshly. In another test consisting of an IQ, some other small petrol car and a Yeti 1.5TDi being thrashed around a race track, the diesel was the worst performer. So it depends how you drive it!

[1100HondaCB]

The Citroen C2 HDi was claimed at 67mpg, but when they tested it, it actually got 42mpg. Then there's the Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi that is claimed to do up to 88mpg, but the worst they got was 18mpg and the best was 45mpg when driven sensibly according to the fuel computer. So are these fuel computers accurate or just a gimick? The best way to do the test is to brim the tank then drive for a bit and then brim the tank again. From that you can then work out the fuel economy.

[adamc260]

I don't quite believe this test, half the cars are loaded up with people/equipment which would cause extra weight.. in real driving conditions with wind etc. How on earth do they then say 'We matched figures obtained in a lab on a rolling road with no one in the car etc etc...'

[hunghuge12]

That looked fuck all like a combined cycle. It looked like cruising along. No traffic, no stop starting, no cold starts or any of the other things that kill MPG.

[GodlyhankFfXI]

@hunghuge12 Thats combined.... urban cycle is when your in traffic etc, which is always the lowest of the 3 manufacturer given amounts, extra urban is motorway non stop driving at about 60-70 being careful on the accelerator lolz

[xstr33tr4cerx]

you know how to really save gas use a manual no tiptronic no automatic paddle shift shit just simple clutch and gear selector good 10mpg higher than autos on most cars

[marshknute]

The American fuel economy ratings are so far off of real-world figures. For example, my Mom's 2007 Prius is supposed to get 60 mpg (American gallon). I once tried to get the best possible fuel economy when driving home from my grandparent's house. I never once exceeded 55 mph, coasted as much as possible, never used more than 20% throttle and took as many back roads as possible (b/c the Prius has better city mpg than highway mpg). Despite my best efforts, I only managed 53 mpg.

[posro1988]

I managed higher mpg than manufacturers claim in my car, and I don't do the old man in the fast lane routine, just sensible accelerations and braking with your engine

[raikkonen85]

having 4 grown men in a car compared to 1 will reduce mpg. like in these tests. i think the rolling road test they have no one in the car. obviously the car companies paid 5th gear some money

[raikkonen85]

having 3 grown men in a car compared to 1 will reduce mpg. like in these tests. i think the rolling road test they have no one in the car.

[racer17551]

I drive a Volvo S40 1.8 2002 model. volvo claims 36.2 MPG on the combined cycle. On a 22 mile drive to a town I use for my clothes shopping I managed 41.9MPG! In the town MPG is lower 30s, but drive carefully and look ahead at all times and you might be surprised.

Now lets compare to my ex 1999 Megane sport 1.6. Renault claims 40.4MPG, but despite careful driving, I couldn't get beyond 36.7MPG. Although to be fair the megane was probs due a service so we can give it a break :P

[andersemil]

Sure brand new cars get good mileage, but all cars mileages decline slowly with age. I'd expect used cars, only a few years old, to score considerably worse. Should be interesting to do a survey on second-hand cars, see which ones decline faster.

[petbedding01]

@andersemil Actually during the first 10,000 miles of a cars life the mpg will increase, particularly on Diesels. When engines are new they are very tight and have alot of friction, as they are worn in they loosen up which reduces friction and means better performance and economy.

[cidpusa700]

Drive carefully

[nickguitarsw]

In my 97 jetta vr6 (172hp 2.8l 6cyl) the manufacturer said I'd only get 28mpg highway. On my 200 miles trip to palm springs I averaged 42 mpg there and back, absolutely astonishing. My 02 civic SI did even better(160hp 2.0l 4 cyl), manufacturer said 28 mpg highway and I got 45 average. Drive it like you're broke and you'll be returned the favor. I laugh at prius's because I know I can have way more fun in my cars but get better mpg when they fly past me on the freeway.

[japanluv]

@nickguitarsw I agree with you.My 2001 Volvo S60(200bhp 2.4 Turbo,5cyl) manufacturer said 22mpg town(I get 25mpg) and motorway 39.8,I get 36mpg but going from 60 to 90 and back sometimes.Average they say 30 I manage 35mpg.I must mention I live in the UK(mpg is different from USA) and its manual.I did get what manufacturer said 39.8 highway but my foot was glued at 70mph:))Anyway enjoy your ride:)

[mr2gti]

Tit in the back of the Skoda obviously has no clue who builds them....

[j101saar]

Not true with the Ford Fiesta I did some long distance driving in, including motorways, A-roads and city driving. Manufacturers claim is 45mpg combined. On a 300 mile trip of motorways and A-roads I got 35mpg from it. Otherwise it averaged around 28-30 mpg. Most cars I've driven have returned 75% of the manufacturer's claims.

[GreekOrc]

Skoda for ever....

[randomdude10010]

"If you drive your car carefully" that's the key. I hate people with a Prius who look down on others for not having the most economical car one can get, but then they floor it coming out of the garage...morons

[doraemon8061]

@randomdude10010 I have a Prius but I don't look down on others cuz I knew someone out there might have a blue motion VW. So I do my usual careful driving while I don't dare to look at others when stopping on the red light~ XD

[randomdude10010]

@doraemon8061 I'm in America, we currently (or at least when that comment was posted) don't have Blu Motion VWs, and if you're not one of those drivers, then you don't apply to the category I described before. I'm just always annoyed by the people who buy a Prius thinking they're saving the planet and put themselves on a podium for it when if anything a Prius is more damaging to the environment than anything else

[PercyBeanProductions]

@randomdude10010 Yes! The prius ISN'T that economical compared to some frugal diesels, just buying something like a polo or golf bluemotion they would save money on the buying price, PLUS they'd have do easily better fuel economy too.

[randomdude10010]

@PercyBeanProductions Well I'm in America, and there aren't too many diesels to choose from. So for my purposes, the Prius is pretty mush the most economical car in the US...but it's still the damn drivers of these cars who don't us them correctly but still feel the need to act like heroes of the road.

[hunghuge12]

@randomdude10010 Completely agree. Here's a good one - what cars get closest to claimed MPG if you don't drive carefully?

[eldiablo825]

and our survey says ... lol

[5959512]

testing mpgs with 4 people in the car is a retarded waste of time

[Milkmadness]

@5959512

you're a waste of time. look how the gas mileage figures come close to the manufacturers ratings. still.

[dorianmw]

Dacia is the best! :D

[yoseb92]

australian people shit on americans.

[kyleisreallycool]

@yoseb92 australian people are shit

[antoneklant]

Volvo for life:D

swedish cars is the best cars ever made:D

[AdrianC12345]

I hate the guy that says that he would buy a car for its brand name. You buy a car depending on how good it is, that's how a car company gets its reputation.

[kingeddy137]

VOLVO !!!!!

[Nonbelieverification]

Volvo FTW!! Skoda blows chunks!

[AdrianC12345]

Wow, here in the US we get claims about cars getting 30-40 mpg, and in europe 80?!

[powervc]

UK Gallon is 4.5 litres and US Gallon is 3.7. That's part of the reason of the high MPG :). Plus those are diesel cars and specifically designed for low fuel consumption - e.g. improved areo dynamics.

[armenchik619]

@AdrianC12345 america's shit, thats alll u need to know.

[AdrianC12345]

And you live in what country?

[AdrianC12345]

So, why is America shit? Huh? Do you live in a better country? Where?

[jpmahone]

@AdrianC12345 America is shite, such a disgusting money obsessed greed ridden culture. Not saying that you are like this but pop culture certainly is and its pretty sad how carried away your capitalist system has become. Gotta look after the needy not the rich. I live in New Zealand we look after each other. And gun ownership, fundamentalist Christians, Intelligent design in school..... yikes, don't even get me started

[yoseb92]

Australia, mate.

[AdrianC12345]

Australia what?

[AdrianC12345]

why do you think that you have the right to say shit like that?

[jpmahone]

@armenchik619 so true. America is naaasty

[armenchik619]

@jpmahone thank you

[kicksoffs]

as much as i like volvo i'd take the skoda.

[james27791]

the volvo's the best

[hakenhaai]

Wear your seatbelt in the Volvo!

[xraycortina]

My 1991 Renault Clio 1.4 petrol. Limoges to Brighton (820kms) via Dunkerque & Dover. 56mpg (5 litres/100kms) average, on mixed roads. Not bad.

[sakal88]

yeah, because it pollutes everything

[PEDROZSANCHEZ]

skoda superb is limousine

[jetmano]

@PEDROZSANCHEZ Since when? :D its a saloon, or sedan . Limousine has to be luxurious, but i cant find a thing thats luxurious about it. S class is luxurious, Superb just isnt....

[HowkeyLL]

@PEDROZSANCHEZ Superb (spaciuous luxury European limousine) - 52,7mpg

Prius (awfull design but specially designed for economy) - 52 mpg

what would you choose? I know what im buying next year :)

[cheeco8]

the skoda and volvo look decent.the smart is not smart.

[slungbungdungclung]

The Skoda is actually pretty nice. It's pretty much a Passat.

[djSarma1989]

better then the passat... and not only by price...

look for test and you will see what i am talking about ;)

[oikeileong]

The faggot sitting in the back seat around the 1:52 mark is a little bitch - just one of those typical metrosexual types who think a Volvo is "hip and trendy".

[Zeamus634]

Nothing wrong with a volvo!

[mrbadx19]

well done! my usa smart gets 60 MPG in the summer, usa ratings are abysmal 33/41MPGs, our EPA must be lead-footed, crack smoking buffoons to get 33MPGs or even 41MPGs!

[Neonspinnazz30]

And you live in the Land of Corruption so it's not like you live on the freeway!

*hopes for equal mileage*

[sonofagunM357]

@mrbadx19 Did you really get 60 miles per gallon on a Smart? what were the conditions of the road?

[mrbadx19]

@sonofagunM357 i got 61.6mpgs on a smart in a trip from illinois to indiana and back on a hot summer day, it was upper 80's in temp. the smarts love warmer temps. the smart gets best MPGs when operating at 188-193F coolant temps, and the smart reaches this temp in a minute or two when it's hot out. i just spent a week in wisconsin, 410 miles in 60-70F weather and filled with 8.1 gallons, see my new videos. if it's over 70F i can clock over 50mpgs on any trip!

[sonofagunM357]

@mrbadx19 I want to believe

[michiel1551]

They are driving in a packed car without radio and other gadgets on.

[classicczech]

Good test: Dude on 1:50: What a whining, spoiled little kid!