Yes, in practice fuel consumption is often higher than the figures provided by the manufacturer. We understand you might wonder why that is. The explanation is simple: fuel consumption is tested under the most ideal conditions. For example:
The test cars use overinflated tyres with low rolling resistance
The grille and body seams are often taped to reduce air resistance
The cars are tested without extras. This means all options and accessories, such as roof rails, extra lights and power seats, are removed. This makes the car lighter and more aerodynamic
During testing, the car is shifted according to a fixed strategy set by the manufacturer. In real life, your shifting depends on traffic
The test does not consider your personal driving style. Hard acceleration, frequent braking and fast driving all increase fuel use
Features like air conditioning, heating and the radio are switched off during the test. Chances are you do use them when you drive
How big is the difference?
Here are a few examples to show the gap between official figures and real-world usage:
Kia Picanto
According to WLTP, a Kia Picanto Comfortline uses 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres. That is about 1 litre per 20.4 kilometres.
In practice, the average is closer to 6 litres per 100 kilometres. That equals roughly 1 litre per 16.7 kilometres.Volkswagen Up!
Official WLTP figures show 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres. That equals about 1 litre per 19.6 kilometres.
Real-world usage is closer to 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres. That is about 1 litre per 18.5 kilometres.
Want to check real-world fuel usage?
Visit www.praktijkverbruik.nl to compare practical fuel consumption. Please note: results may still vary depending on your personal driving style.
Questions?
Email us: sales@directleaseprivate.nl
Call us: 0541 571 760