All,

every car states these,.,. Consommation en L/100 km
but they put say 13.5/7.5/9.5 (urb. /extraurb Tot..)

so how do I read it??

It would have been simple if it had only one entry..... I am guessing these are different rate fuel... need some more clarity
Also do they put it for desile and petrol cars both?


Another question on this thread is : If I drive 1000KM /month mostly on major big road... 30% of time on mountains.. do I need petrol car or deisel car?

city/land/mixed

I always thought urban driving/motorway driving/mixed driving - the last being some kind of average.

OP assume that your fuel consumption will be about 1-2 L/100 km worse than the worse value, as these values are usually conducted in test environments rather than real-life.

But who really chooses a car based on purely on fuel consumption in isolation?

Those are the official numbers as generated by the car when completing its economy test. They should be used for relative guidance only - as you will struggle to match those number in real world driving - especially in Switzerland due to the inclines!

13.5 (Urb.) - This is 13.5l/100km of urban driving.
7.5 (extra urb.) - This is 7.5l/100km of mixed driving - a short bit in town, then up to 90kmh - then 120kmh then back down again. It is meant to simulate a long journey.
9.5 (tot.) - This is the average consumption - based on a % urban and the remained extra urban.

If you need more information google for how the test is done.

It is worth noting however, that in my experience, you'll struggle to match the numbers:
1) If the car is automatic
2) A diesel
3) You drive higher than the posted limits
4) You brake too often

For 1000km you'll struggle to make back the difference in fuel and purchase costs for a diesel over a petrol - however you may prefer a diesel because of the power delivery. If you let us know which 2 cars you are considering and how much you enjoy driving, we can advise further.

It is possible to make the posted numbers for fuel economy.

My car gives a mixed figure of 6.3l/100km I'm currently averaging 5.6 when measured by the on board computer or 5.9 when measured at the tank when topping up. I will admit that my "mix" includes a bit less city driving than people who live in the city, but I still do sit in traffic and I probably include more hilly driving than the average city dweller.

Contrary to what is commonly believed I seem to get very slightly worse consumption on my summer wheels/tyres than winter wheels/tyres. I think this is possibly due to heavier and bigger rims on the summer tyres.

BTW, I fulfil to of the Kens categories for making it more difficult to get the figures. The car is diesel and... well I'll let you guess the other one. (I don't want to be accused of killing fluffy bunnies etc!)

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I get about 8% better fuel consumption on winter tyres which are Michelin fuel savers. The summer wheels are wider 225 x 45 / 195 x 50 and not 'fuel savers'...

Officially mine does 7.6 - I get 7.2 - tank after tank of mixed driving. And it is a diesel - and I don't exactly drive economically!

I also said "struggle to match" - I didn't say it couldn't be done

Do you guys think there is an optimum engine size, to return good fuel economy?
[Disclaimer:- I obviously realise there are many variables that determine fuel consumption/economy, but am interested to hear opinions on engine size alone]

I have 1.3 tonne, 1.6i 4cyl petrol, permanent 4x4, and have always struggled to come close to the published figure. (somewhere in the region of 7 or 8, I think without checking - I average 10 when I'm lucky - which is what I realistically use as base figure).

I always feel the engine has to work hard and is geared too low (especially on gradients). Bigger size engines (2.0l+) have to work less hard but use more fuel due to increased capacity, and smaller engines (1.3l or less), use less on average, but probably really struggle on hills.

My engine (car) is approaching 5 yrs. old has done approx. 70K klicks, serviced at recommended intervals (unfortunately not too much I can do personally other than check the levels), I "normally" keep my tyre pressures on the money (thinks to self whilst writing - "Have I checked them since putting summer wheels back on?").

I often drive with the current consumption on display on my trip computer and strive for the magic 10 and lower, but in defence - with the needs of children, many of my journeys are short and semi-urban. Couple that with the fact that when my wife drives the car, she may be a little heavy on the accelerator leading probably to unburned fuel (Swiss impatience or lack of feel?) - and this is always reflected in the figures when I look next time.
Plus the klima.

When I do "journeys" with autobahn, I can get down in the 9's but no lower - up to about 90-100kmh is less than 10, but after that it goes above, but the average still somehow creeps down, due the nature of doing less urban type driving.

I think I could come close to published figures, but only if I drive with minimal acceleration, and don't exceed 70/80 kmh anywhere - not very realistic.

I drive a 1995 BMW 328i, I average about 8, when I had a 318ti it was nearer 7.5. in town the 318ti was way better on the motorway not much in it.

How do automatics figure consumption wise ? I have a CVT in my B180CDI, since it is continuous I imagine the computer can always gear the car for lowest consumption, therefore it should do better than a manual. Consumption according to computer is 5.8/100 which I think is not bad for a 2L diesel with an automatic...

Or maybe because you run the aircon in the summer? So many things affect consumption!

If you live near the border, filling up in France, if you've a diesel, is definitely worthwhile.

Normally there is not a lot in it, with come BMW's the autos are slightly more economical, it's worth looking at official figures.

In many cases opening the windows will increase the drag of the car more than using aircon.

But leaving the windows closed, switching off the aircon will save you fuel. Of course, your deoderant/anti-perspirant bill goes through the roof.

These are mine official ones :
Verbrauch
in l/100 km 19.6/9.8/13.4 (St/Land/Tot)

in real life Im 25L/12L/16L

driving style has much to do with it tho

My current options are Toyota corolla versa 7 seater or Honda stream 7 seater