Why won't my Volkswagen Golf achieve its quoted fuel economy figures?

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Why won't my Volkswagen Golf achieve its quoted fuel economy figures?

My Volkswagen Golf 1.6 Bluemotion estate, two months old, has done 2,500 miles. This car should do 54/67/78 to the gallon. It does 40mpg round town and maybe 50mpg on a run (A-roads at 60mph). Volkswagen told us that after 2,000 miles it should settle down and do the stated mpg. I feel this is complete nonsense and this car is never going to get near these figures.

Asked on 14 October 2010 by CL, via email

Answered by Honest John

It is highly unlikely to ever meet the EC certificated figures that are achieved in ideal laboratory conditions by cars electronically optimised for those specific tests. They are not supposed to be representative. More realistic fuel economy figures would inevitably mean higher CO2 and would lead to higher car tax, but the situation is such a farce that the EC needs to address it.

For example, how can a FIAT 500 900 TwinAir emit 95g/km CO2 and be Congestion Tax exempt when testers have only achieved 35mpg from it, whereas I know of a FIAT 500 1.2 emitting 119g/km that has averaged 50mpg over 10,000 miles?

Tags: european law fuel economy real mpg co2 emissions

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