Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Real World Fuel Consumption vs Official Figures

Now I know that it's unlikely that many of us get even close to the official mpg figures, which are known to be flawed.

But those of us who've owned a few cars will be able to compare the relative performance of each one.

I've owned 3 different makes of 3.0 diesels. Under similar driving conditions the Audi A5 was the closest to it's official figure at 40mpg (this was a while ago) The two XF Jags were within 4/5 mpg of official and the Mercedess E Class coupe was the most disappointing by far, not even getting within 10mpg of it's official figure.

I know this is hardly scientific but it's the same driver and the same driving parameters so it does have some value.

The best performing car, believe it or not, is my Jaguar XJR, which usually betters the official figures, especially on longer trips.

Just call me lead foot.

I am always well under and even on motorway journeys don't exceed the listed figure.

The MB ML63 is listed as 23.9 but my trip computer shows 18.2. The day I bought it and came home I deliberately went as gentle as possible (Essex to Whitchurch on the motorway out of rush hour) and got 22.1 which is the highest I ever recorded.

My last E63/212 was meant to be 24.8 and I got 19.8 over 22k miles with a peak of 24.2 on a long run to scotland at the legal ilmit.

SWMBO Mini CooperS was meant to be 44 but usually shows 32-35. I don't think it is actually possible to drive it without ragging it!

I like the figures on the honest John site - https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/mini/cooper-and-s-r56-2007

I have never had a car that gets close to the average, leadfoot.

Well the Plus8 best for me is around 23 checked on actual fuel used between tank fills. Reading Alistair's I'm quite pleased .

The Polo 1.8 GTI gets 27 driven by my good lady, I very much doubt this was the VAG official combined figure.

The 1.6 Diesel Fiesta gets 60 provided you keep it legal so I imagine that's pretty close.

All checked tank fill to tank fill you can't rely on the car computers I've found, especially the Morgan one .

The best ever 500 mile average on my Zetec 4/4 was 39.9mpg.
My 1.6 DS3 averages about 38 mph mainly on local (hilly) roads.
My worst ever experience was in the 1980s with a new Range Rover 3.5 carburettor auto.
Known as “Glug glug” it would magage 13mpg if driven sparingly!

My first drive in the Roadster a leisurely nine hundred miles, returned 39mpg which I thought was a result.

Very impressive meabh - you must have had your slippers on .

I have covered 20,644 miles in my +8 in the last 30 months using 4032 litres at a UK equivalent cost of £4864. So 23.2MPG. And that's money well spent.

I believe that there can be some difference between the electronic readout and the real world tank to tank figures as well. Does anyone bother to record their actual top up to top up fuel consumption?

That's the only way to do it as far as I'm concerned.

I even try and use the same pump if it's local as they vary a lot on the back pressure stops from pump to pump !

Working on the theory that incorrect information is worse than no information.

Funny that Richard - I was wearing light tennis shoes ! To be fair I never got to more than 65mph as there were only five thousand miles on it and I wanted to take care.