Fifth Gear - Fuel Economy Test

Jonny Smith tests a Smart Car, a Volvo C30, and a Skoda Superb to check if they attain the manufacturers claimed fuel economy figures. From Series 16

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Fifth
• Gear
• Fuel
• Economy
• Test

[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

[PEDROZSANCHEZ]

skoda superb is limousine

[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.

[hunghuge12]

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

[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

[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.

[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 :)

[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.

[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.

[sonofagunM357]

@mrbadx19 I want to believe