Figuring out the right fuel economy for new cars is a complex process made more confusing by discrepancies between testing conditions and real-world driving. To lend a hand, Drive <\/em>journalists share their advice on what fuel consumption figures to look out for. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Finding the best fuel economy figures in the new car market is an often-complicated process further compounded by the discrepancies between lab-tested and real-world fuel consumption data.<\/p>\n To offer some buyer guidance, the Australian Automotive Association (AAA) \u2013 Australia\u2019s peak motoring body \u2013 has published the latest results of its government-funded fuel efficiency program that will test 200 vehicles in various real-world settings across four years. <\/p>\n RELATED: What is a good energy consumption figure for electric vehicles?<\/strong><\/p>\n The fifth round of AAA\u2019s Real-World Testing Program \u2014 which tested 12 vehicles across nine car brands \u2014 revealed that seven cars exceeded their claimed fuel consumption figures by at least 10 per cent.<\/p>\n Of the 12 vehicles measured, the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 and 2023 GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid SUV ranked the worst, consuming 32 per cent more fuel (at 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres and 6.6L\/100km, respectively) than their advertised lab-tested fuel efficiency ratings of 6.9L\/100km and 5.0L\/100km.<\/p>\n However, car makers alongside the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) \u2013 the national motoring organisation for car makers in Australia \u2013 have expressed reservations about AAA\u2019s real-world testing, given that fuel consumption can fluctuate due to external factors. <\/p>\n \u201cRight now, the FCAI believes that the current government-funded real-world testing program presents too many variables and can have the risk of confusing consumers rather than providing clarity,\u201d Tony Weber, the Chief Executive of the FCAI, said in a media statement. <\/p>\n \u201cThe fuel consumption figures published in our brochures provide a general guide of the expected fuel economy,\u201d a Honda spokesperson told Drive.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThese figures are indicative and are dependent on several factors including, driving conditions (particularly temperature and terrain), load weight, time spent with the engine idling, and an individual’s driving habits,\u201d they explained.<\/p>\n At Drive<\/em>, we test more than 200 cars annually across different vehicle classes and varying driving circumstances. With this in mind, fuel consumption is always one of the important talking points when assessing and rating a new car.<\/p>\n Coupled with the cost-of-living crisis and incoming emission standards, fuel economy is at the forefront of everyone\u2019s mind as Australia looks to emphasise lower-emission cars in the next few years.<\/p>\n To lend a helping hand in navigating the complexity of fuel consumption, Drive <\/em>journalists shared their advice on what good fuel economy looks like across popular vehicle classes. <\/p>\n Disclaimer: The numbers in this article should serve as a general guideline and are not definitive. All Drive journalists stated real-world fuel consumption figures are skewed by a driver\u2019s driving habits, the weight of passengers, towing, and other external factors.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n