Fuel consumption fails
Eight out of 21 vehicles tested by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) in its third tranche of real-word testing used between 6 and 31 per cent more fuel than figures obtained from mandatory lab tests conducted by manufacturers.
The biggest discrepancy recorded came with the 2023 Suzuki Swift, using 6.3L/100km in its real-word test – 31 per cent higher than the 4.8L/100km figure from lab tests.
Two Mazdas also made the list, with the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-3 using 15 per cent and 11 per cent more respectively than their lab test figures.
Other makes to go substantially over included the Skoda Kamiq (14 per cent) and Subaru Forester Hybrid (10 per cent).
In contrast, some models recorded lower figures in real-world testing than they did in laboratory tests. The Volkswagen Tiguan SUV returned 6.7L/100km compared to 7.7L/100km in its lab test, while the Kia Cerato recorded 6.7L/100km versus 7.4L/100km – 13 per cent and ten per cent lower respectively.
AAA managing director Michael Bradley says the $14 million testing program shows on-road fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions differ substantially from the laboratory test results displayed on mandated point-of-sale windshield stickers.
“In our latest batch of results, there is a 44 per cent spread in the gap between the tested cars’ fuel consumption lab results and their on-road performance,” he says.
“One 1.2-litre vehicle had similar on-road fuel consumption to several 2.0-litre cars, and a hybrid SUV had higher petrol consumption than a similar-sized conventional SUV.
“These tests show that when comparing vehicles, consumers and fleets cannot assume that vehicle performance as assessed by mandatory lab tests will translate into real-world savings or emissions reduction.”
Six vehicles’ on-road emissions exceeded current or future Australian regulatory lab limits for tailpipe emissions. Three exceeded the lab limits for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), one had on-road carbon monoxide emissions that were more than double the regulated lab test limit, and two exceeded the future limit for particle number emissions, to be introduced in December 2025.
“Households and fleets looking to buy new cars can use real-world testing results to manage their transport costs,” Mr Bradley says.
“Our program is also helping address greenwashing concerns and can make the government’s new vehicle efficiency standard more robust and more effective.”
The real-world testing program is run by the AAA and funded by the federal government. Program testing is conducted in and around Geelong in Victoria. It complies with strict guidelines that are based on European Union legislation and were developed in consultation with Australian regulators and industry.
Strict test protocols ensure fuel consumption and emissions results are repeatable and minimise the influence of human factors such as driving style and changing traffic flows. For research purposes, the AAA undertook 23 tests on the program’s reference vehicle (a Toyota RAV4), with fuel consumption across these tests having less than 2.5 per cent variability.
The four-year program will test 200 cars, SUVs, and utes, including electric vehicles. EV testing protocols are now being developed.
For a full list of the vehicles tested so far, head to realworld.org.au.
