Real-world fuel consumption testing underway in Australia

Australian car buyers will soon have real-world fuel consumption and emission data at their disposal during their new-vehicle buying process, thanks to a new initiative that aims to clarify the advertised figures of vehicles.

The Australian Automotive Association’s (AAA) Real-World Testing Program will test 200 cars in real-world driving conditions over the next four years to quantify how each vehicle’s fuel economy and emissions performance varies compared to the advertised lab-derived figures in the wake of myriad scandals both here and abroad.

Two of the most high-profile cases in recent memory are Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal and the recent court case between Mitsubishi Australia and a disgruntled Triton customer who couldn’t match his vehicle’s claimed fuel consumption.

A pilot program run by the AAA in 2017 meantime found 30 of the market’s most popular models consumers an average of 23 per cent more fuel than claimed in real-world conditions, while 11 of the 12 diesels tested exceeded regulatory laboratory noxious emissions limits.

Launched this week by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, the full-fat program is backed by $14 million of government funding and will publish its first round of results next month via the new Real-World Testing Program website and the AAA’s member clubs.

AAA managing director Michael Bradley said Aussie car buyers had been misled about real-world fuel consumption for too long now and thanked the government for its support in ensuring consumers get the best and most accurate information possible.

“This program will deliver Australians truth-in-advertising and drive down demand for cars that over-promise and under-deliver,” he said.

“Better information will enable families and fleet buyers to buy vehicles that will meet their budget and environmental requirements.”

It should be noted, however, that while the program has government backing, there are no plans to change Australian Design Rules (ADR) to include the results of real-world consumption or emissions testing regardless of how varied they may be.

That said, the government says it is “continuing to consider a pathway for the introduction of the Euro 6d standard for light vehicles” as part of a new Fuel Efficiency Standard that would force manufacturers to “perform an improved laboratory test and a new on-road emissions test for noxious emissions”.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au