As the old saying goes, there are lies, damned lies, and statistics. Even worse than stats are carmakers’ fuel consumption claims, which sometimes seem laughably optimistic.
Car manufacturers don’t actually intend to fib (much) when it comes to quoting fuel consumption figures. In the real world it’s hard to achieve the numbers on the economy label mainly because cars are tested in a lab and under fairly unrealistic conditions, like having all ancillary loads like the lights, air-conditioner and so on switched off.
Manufacturers can also optimise their cars specifically to excel in the tests by setting gearbox shift points accordingly, or introducing features like Start-Stop engines, which drivers here may not always use.
Ultimately, good fuel consumption claims are like high PSLE scores â€" they don’t necessarily translate into success, but can be a strong predictor of it.
Take the new Toyota Corolla Altis. It's supposed to be able to reach 100km on 6.5 litres of petrol.
On a 50km-test drive around Singapore â€" taking in all manner of conditions from congested town traffic to a suburban run dotted with traffic lights to a jaunt on expressways â€" we failed to achieve that claimed mileage.
Instead, by driving carefully and in realistic conditions (we kept the air-con on at all times, for instance, and even kept the engine running while we made a quick stop at a durian stall in town) we saw 5.4L/100km on the Toyota's trip computer.
In other words, we consumed 17 percent less fuel than Toyota said we would.
The Corolla Altis’ fundamental frugality helped us to squeeze out plenty of mileage, but an efficient car is only half the battle. These tips are the other half. Try them for yourself and watch those fuel bills shrink.
1) Keep your car in good shape with regular servicing
Clogged filters, fouled plugs, misaligned wheels… they all mess up fuel consumption. They’re all picked up and sorted during servicing.
2) Keep it stock
For the love of all that’s decent, adding a wing to your car does not make it go faster or look better. It’s just daft. And it adds wasteful drag. Same with wide tyres. Don’t bother.
3) Keep your tyres properly inflated
Speaking of those round, black things, always keep them properly inflated (check every other time you stop for fuel, at least). Flat tyres create extra rolling resistance (and increase fuel burn), wear out faster and offer lousy grip.
4) Look into the future
Behind the wheel, cultivate a sense of anticipation. If you train yourself to look much further ahead than usual, you can build up a mental map of what’s going on with the car around you… and what’s about to happen. By steering smoothly around these upcoming hazards you’ll be able to keep your momentum going.
5) Back off
Try keeping a much larger distance between yourself and the car in front of you than you're used to. You'll be surprised how much the extra buffer space will let you keep going at a smooth pace while the car ahead speeds up and slows down with the rest of traffic. It gives you a better view ahead, too, which helps with anticipation.
6) Keep it steady
You don't have to drive like a granny. Accelerate smartly to cruising speeds if you want, but the main goal is to hit a steady speed and then use the throttle sparingly to keep gliding along. It’s easier with enough of a buffer between your car and the one in front, so remember the two-second rule and use it.
7) Coast to coast
Many drivers only ever have their right foot on the accelerator or the brake pedal at any given time, but if you leave your foot completely off the pedals and let the car coast along, you'll be surprised how long its momentum will keep it going. Give it a go and you’ll wonder why you never did it before.
From Issue 219 of CarBuyer magazine
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