The Australian Car Affiliation (AAA) has put extra new fashions underneath the microscope as a part of its Actual-World Testing Program, together with autos it has examined earlier than, and located a lot of them can’t match their gasoline economic system claims.
It examined new or up to date variations of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, MG HS and Toyota Camryand located they’d bigger gaps between their laboratory-based gasoline economic system claims and outcomes from real-world testing, although the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC improved because the final time they had been examined.
The Camry additionally had the second largest disparity between its official declare and the real-world testing end result, at 20 per cent (4.8L/100km vs 4.0L/100km). The mid-size sedan additionally emitted extra CO2 than marketed (112g/km vs 91g/km).
Solely the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional small SUV had a wider hole in gasoline consumption figures, at 21 per cent (8.8L/100km vs 7.3L/100km). It additionally emitted 203g/km of CO2, towards a lab end result declare of 166g/km.
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Different fashions examined managed to match their gasoline consumption claims (the Mercedes-Benz GLA) and even finest them (the BMW X5which had 15 per cent higher gasoline economic system and 15 per cent decrease CO2 emissions).
In 2022, the federal authorities allotted $14 million to the AAA – the height physique for Australia’s state-based motoring golf equipment, such because the NRMA, RACV and RACQ – to conduct real-world testing of 200 autos beforehand solely examined underneath lab situations.
Along with testing the gasoline economic system claims of petrol, diesel and hybrid fashions, it has additionally just lately introduced its first exams of electrical automobile (EV) vary claims.
“Actual-world testing is a vital device to assist shoppers and fleet consumers get monetary savings by figuring out which vehicles carry out as marketed and which fall quick,” stated AAA managing director Michael Bradley.

“At a time when regulators world wide are putting more and more stringent emissions requirements on automobile makers to cut back emissions, Actual-World Testing can also be producing necessary information to point how automobile makers are responding to those necessities.”
The AAA has stated the necessity for real-world testing was first demonstrated by the Volkswagen emissions scandal generally known as Dieselgate, during which Volkswagen autos had been discovered to make use of ‘defeat machine’ software program to trick lab exams, and it claims real-world information is necessary through the cost-of-living disaster for households and fleet consumers alike.
However the AAA has been criticised for inflicting confusion with its real-world testing, which is performed from a facility in Geelong and on public roads in and across the Victorian metropolis.
“All autos, together with EVs, offered in Australia are examined underneath strict laboratory situations set out in Australian Design Rule 81/02,” stated FCAI chief govt Tony Weber in August.

“This constant methodology ensures autos could be reliably in contrast, no matter model or mannequin.
“Checks performed exterior the ADR course of are influenced by many variables, together with site visitors, terrain, climate and driving model. No two drivers or journeys are the identical.
“We assist clear, evidence-based data for shoppers, but it surely should be constant. When conflicting figures are revealed, it undermines confidence and causes pointless confusion.”
The Electrical Car Council additionally dinged the AAA for its real-world testing of EVs.
Beneath are the newest gasoline consumption outcomes, although you may view extra detailed overviews for every take a look at automobile on the AAA web site.
All fashions examined had been 2025 examples, aside from the Cupra Formentor and Subaru WRX which had been from 2024. Beneath we’ve detailed the gasoline consumption claims and real-world testing outcomes for every of the autos within the AAA’s newest spherical.
SUVs
| Mannequin | Variant | Mandated lab take a look at declare (L/100km) | AAA testing end result (L/100km) | Disparity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X1 | xDrive20i | 7.2L/100km | 7.3L/100km | +2% |
| BMW X3 | 20 xDrive | 7.5L/100km | 7.3L/100km | -3% |
| BMW X5 | xDrive30d M Sport | 7.8L/100km | 6.7L/100km | -15% |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Professional | Final | 7.3L/100km | 8.8L/100km | +21% |
| Chery Tiggo 7 Professional | SE | 7.0L/100km | 7.7L/100km | +10% |
| Cupra Formentor | VZx | 7.7L/100km | 8.4L/100km | +9% |
| Lexus UX | 300h | 4.2L/100km | 4.9L/100km | +16% |
| Mazda CX-80 | G40e Pure | 8.4L/100km | 8.0L/100km | -5% |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA | 250 4Matic | 7.9L/100km | 7.9L/100km | 0% |
| MG HS | Vibe | 6.9L/100km | 7.2L/100km | +5% |
| Nissan Qashqai | ST | 6.1L/100km | 6.8L/100km | +11% |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Hybrid L | 6.5L/100km | 7.2L/100km | +10% |
| Volvo XC60 | Extra B5 | 7.6L/100km | 8.0L/100km | +6% |
Passenger vehicles
| Mannequin | Variant | Mandated lab take a look at declare (L/100km) | AAA testing end result (L/100km) | Disparity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru WRX | Sportswagon tS | 8.5L/100km | 8.3L/100km | -3% |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | Ascent | 4.0L/100km | 4.8L/100km | +20% |
Industrial automobiles
| Mannequin | Mandated lab take a look at declare (L/100km) | AAA testing end result (L/100km) | Disparity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger Raptor | 11.5L/100km | 12.3L/100km | +7% |
| Hyundai Staria Load | 7.0L/100km | 7.2L/100km | +4% |
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