New cars 5.4 per cent less efficient than official figures, research shows

Volvo XC40 T4 tops list of biggest under-performers

New cars 5.4 per cent less efficient than official figures, research shows

New petrol, diesel and hybrid cars are on average 5.4 per cent less efficient than their official fuel consumption figures suggest, according to new research by What Car?.

What Car? tested 56 new petrol, diesel and hybrid models that have been type approved under the new, tougher, Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) emissions and fuel economy tests.

The vehicles tested ranged from small hatchbacks to large SUVs and each model was subjected to What Car?’s independent True MPG test to determine its real-world fuel economy.

The worst performers were found to be more than 20 per cent less efficient than their official figures, while the best performers were found to be 15 per cent more efficient.

Top ten biggest under-performers

MakeModelEngineTrimAverage True MPGWLTP CombinedShortfall
VolvoXC40T4R-Design Pro27.134.8-22.1%
VolvoV60D4Momentum Pro40.149.5-19.0%
RenaultClioTCe 100Iconic44.454.3-18.2%
BMW3 Series320dSport47.257.6-18.1%
VolvoXC40D4First Edition35.442.7-17.1%
BMW3 Series TouringM340iM Sport28.033.6-16.7%
BMW1 Series118iM Sport36.342.8-15.2%
VolvoS60T5R-Design Plus32.538.2-14.9%
FordFocus1.5 Ecoblue 120ST-Line52.461.4-14.7%
KiaSportage2.0 CRDi 48V GT-Line S 35.740.9-12.7%

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The tougher and longer WLTP emissions and type approval test was introduced in 2017 by the European Commission and became mandatory for all new vehicles from September 2018 onwards.

It replaced the previous New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) type approval test, which dated back to the 1980s, with the aim of providing more accurate fuel consumption figures for new car buyers.

The new WLTP test is a significant improvement over the NEDC test, according to What Car?’s figures.

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A sample of 159 vehicles tested under the NEDC protocol showed an average discrepancy of 20.2 per cent between True MPG and the manufacturer quoted figures, with the worst performers as much as 40 per cent less efficient than advertised.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “For years, most buyers have taken the official fuel economy figures with a grain of salt.

“Our research shows that while the latest test is more accurate, there are still large differences on some makes and models, which is why it’s important for buyers to do their research before buying.”

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