TAKEN FOR FUELS

CAR makers have been accused of exaggerating the miles per gallon which motorists' vehicles really do.

Independent tests have shown that many cover far fewer mpg than the official figures quoted in new car brochures. While some cars consume only slightly more fuel than claimed, others have been found to achieve 10, 20 or even 24mpg less than buyers are led to believe.

Manufacturers achieve their results by using specially-tuned cars in laboratory conditions.

But because the tests conform to EU rules, they do not break any rules.

The loophole was exposed when the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) investigated the pounds 25,000 diesel-engined Renault Espace.

Oil company manager Charles MacGregor, 48, of Aberdeen had complained to the advertising watchdog when he found he was doing just 28mpg in the vehicle...11.8mpg less than Renault claimed.

The seven-seater, 2.2-litre direct injection dCi also failed to live up to expectations in an independent road test.

Top Gear magazine found it did an average 31.4 mpg.

Mr MacGregor said: "It is totally misleading for Renault to advertise those figures. Fuel consumption was a big factor in my decision, otherwise I would have bought a petrol model."

An ASA spokesman said: "We are concerned at the discrepancy, but our hands are tied because the advertiser followed the testing protocol."

As our chart on the left shows, other cars also failed to live up to brochure claims. While a Mercedes A140 Elegance LWB did only 4.6mpg less, a Nissan Primera 1.8S did 9.9mpg less, a Peugeot 307 110 HDi Rapier nearly 14mpg less and a Renault Clio 1.5dCi Dynamique 20.2mpg less.

A Volvo S60 2.4 D5 SE, came bottom of the list by claiming to do an average 47.1mpg but actually achieving only 22.5mpg in the Top Gear tests - an expensive 24.6mpg less.

David Evans, of the Consumers' Association magazine Which? said: "Most of the manufacturers' figures should be taken with a pinch of salt.

"When Which? buys a product for testing, we go to a shop or warehouse and pick one at random.

"But car makers are allowed to use specially-prepared vehicles for testing to give them a good result."

Manufacturers spokesman Al Clarke said: "The figures are compiled to Government standards. There is no evidence that firms are fiddling them."

RENAULT ESPACE

Official MPG .. 39.8 The test MPG .. 28.0

FORD MONDEO

Official MPG .. 36.2 The test MPG .. 27.8

NISSAN PRIMERA

Official MPG .. 38.2 The test MPG .. 28.3

VW GOLF TDI

Official MPG .. 51.4 The test MPG .. 42.5

PEUGEOT 307

Official MPG .. 54.3 The test MPG .. 40.5

VOLVO S60 D5 SE

Official MPG .. 47.1 The test MPG .. 22.5

RENAULT CLIO

Official MPG .. 65.7 The test MPG .. 45.5

MERCEDES A140

Official MPG .. 39.8 The test MPG .. 35.2

Copyright 2002 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.