Carmakers underestimate fuel costs

Many British motorists are reportedly paying more than they realise on fuel for their cars.

Millions of drivers may be overpaying for petrol because official vehicle fuel consumption figures are incorrect, according to research conducted by Auto Express magazine.

Some UK drivers use as much as 28 per cent more fuel than manufacturers' miles per gallon estimates indicate, the study shows.

The magazine estimates that the difference between actual and official figures is around 17-20 per cent, adding hundreds of pounds a year to the average bill for fuel. Tests on the Mazda RX-8, which claims to return 25.2mpg, suggested that it provided just 21.7mpg, or a total of £574 extra per year on petrol for 200,000 miles of driving.

In its report, Auto Express stated: "Our shock findings reveal that even if the literature accompanying a new model says it will return, for instance, 40mpg, in reality it won't get anywhere near."

Road test editor Oliver Marriage said: "Our report proves that current official economy figures are at best misleading. The tests aren't representative of how average people drive."

Motoring industry experts insist that official consumption figures are provided as a guide for drivers, indicating the comparative performance of different models.

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