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Why doesn't my Audi A4 return its quoted mpg figure?
My new company car is a 2012 Audi A4 TDI 136 and I am extremely disappointed with the fuel economy. The book states that the car should achieve 65.7mpg on the combined cycle, whereas my long term average (over 10,000 miles) is 40mpg. On a long journey at steady pace I can achieve between 42 and 47, whereas shorter trips or more enthusiastic driving can return anything between 30 and 40. I have tried feathering the accelerator, braking as early as possible and all other manner of driving techniques but I can’t even break 50mpg, let alone 65.7.
This is in contrast to my previous two BMWs which, whilst quicker and better to drive, returned more acceptable fuel economy. My 2008 123d delivered 42.7mpg over 80,000 miles (book quoted 50.4mpg), and my 2010 520d delivered 46mpg over 30,000 miles (against the quoted figure of 57.6mpg). Manufacturers, particularly Audi, need to be forced to quote real-world consumption figures. I am significantly out of pocket.
This is in contrast to my previous two BMWs which, whilst quicker and better to drive, returned more acceptable fuel economy. My 2008 123d delivered 42.7mpg over 80,000 miles (book quoted 50.4mpg), and my 2010 520d delivered 46mpg over 30,000 miles (against the quoted figure of 57.6mpg). Manufacturers, particularly Audi, need to be forced to quote real-world consumption figures. I am significantly out of pocket.
Asked on 15 September 2012 by MC, via email
Answered by
Honest John
You write: "The book states that the car should achieve 65.7mpg on the combined cycle." No, it doesn't. This is merely the result of the statutory EC lab test that determines a car's economy and CO2 output for tax purposes. It is not a guide to what you can really expect, but these are the only figures a manufacturer is allowed by law to provide.
Happily, we run a databank that allows drivers to log their real mpg at www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg and you can check what other Audi drivers are getting there, adding your own figures for the benefit of everyone. BMW does tend to get closer to its EC test figures and over 1550 miles in a BMW 320d ED I have averaged 67.5mpg.
Happily, we run a databank that allows drivers to log their real mpg at www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg and you can check what other Audi drivers are getting there, adding your own figures for the benefit of everyone. BMW does tend to get closer to its EC test figures and over 1550 miles in a BMW 320d ED I have averaged 67.5mpg.
Real MPG enables you to register the fuel economy you are actually getting against your make and model of car, its engine and type of transmission.
Every time you enter an average consumption figure against your car, the overall average automatically adjusts to reflect it.
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