What Car? Q&A - Why isn’t my Ford frugal?

Q: I recently bought a nearly new Ford Mondeo, but have been unable to get anywhere near the official fuel consumption figures. How is this figure calculated?
Tony Hunt

A: This is often a bone of contention with owners, and you are not the first to ask this question. In order to ensure consistent results, all fuel efficiency tests are carried out in a laboratory under test conditions. This means that it is easy to compare cars on paper.

However, it also means it is difficult to achieve the same result while driving on the road, because hills, wind speed and even having the radio or air-conditioning on will affect a car's performance. Don’t forget, too, that your own driving style can heavily influence how efficient a car may be.

It is advisable to use the figures as a guide to help select the most efficient car, rather than as a guide to what you will actually achieve in everyday driving. However, if a car produces dramatically different figures to those quoted, it may be worth taking it to a dealership for an inspection.