The latest results from the AAA’s Real-World Testing Program (RWTP) show that many popular models continue to use more fuel on the road than lab figures suggest. Twelve of the 17 internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles tested used more fuel in real-world driving than the numbers reported by manufacturers through mandatory laboratory tests.
Major gaps seen across popular models
Among the newest results, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro posted the largest discrepancy, using 21 per cent more fuel on the road than in its lab test. It was followed by the Toyota Camry Hybrid at 20 per cent, the Lexus UX at 16 per cent, the Nissan Qashqai at 11 per cent, and both the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro at 10 per cent.
The AAA notes that the RWTP, created after the 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal, has now tested 131 ICE and hybrid models since 2023. Across the program’s history, 76 per cent of vehicles have used more fuel on-road than indicated by laboratory results.
The program uses a 93km test circuit around Geelong and applies strict protocols based on European regulations to ensure consistency and minimise human influence, such as driving style or traffic variability.
Useful insights for buyers and regulators
“Real-world testing is an important tool to help consumers and fleet buyers save money by identifying which cars perform as advertised and which fall short,” AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said.
“At a time when regulators around the world are placing increasingly stringent emissions standards on car makers to reduce emissions, Real-World Testing is also producing important data to indicate how car makers are responding to these requirements.’’
As the program matures, updated results show mixed trends across brands. The latest Toyota Camry model, for example, now uses 20 per cent more fuel in real-world testing compared to its updated laboratory figure (up from 8 per cent in the 2023 version). Updated versions of the MG HS, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson also showed larger gaps than earlier models, while BMW and Mercedes-Benz narrowed their discrepancies for the X3 and GLC-Class respectively.
“Real-World Testing was conceived to determine whether consumers could rely upon fuel consumption figures provided by car makers at point of sale. But as the program has matured it is now providing data that can help regulators track the gains made in laboratory testing for compliance, and whether those gains are delivering real savings for consumers.”
The AAA will release its next set of electric vehicle results next month. Earlier EV findings published in August showed that none of the first five EVs tested delivered the full advertised driving range on a single charge, falling 5 per cent to 23 per cent below laboratory-based claims.
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