Stretching your fuel

fuel and forgo certain luxuries.
A few years ago it was common to get cars which could give you almost 18km per litre.
We fast forward to 2012 and there are now 24 models that claim to get the US Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy of almost 20km per litre on the highway and 15 of them are not even hybrids. In this issue I will give you two cars to choose from — the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Passat TDI.
The Mazda 3 is a budget petrol sedan while the VW is a more luxurious vehicle for executives.
I have taken these two vehicles for a test drive and I can vouch that they do perform according to the EPA figures.
So once you make your choice about the kind of general fuel economy that you want from your car, I ultimately recommend you buy the best fuel-sipping car that meets your needs. As I discovered, it is easier than ever to find one that does.
The new Mazda 3 comes with an array of variations, including two body styles, four engines, five transmissions and multiple trim levels.
To get the 17km per litre rating, you must select 3i Touring or 3i Grand Touring trim, a sedan body style and the six-speed automatic transmission.
Unfortunately, the new Mazda 3 is not available in Zimbabwe and those interested will have to import it from South Africa or Botswana.
The Volkswagen Passat TDI is the only car here that is available in an even more fuel-efficient version since it also comes with a manual transmission.
We expect only a scant few buyers are likely to opt for the manual transmission that brings with it a 16km/litre-highway rating.
The Passat can also come with a pair of less-efficient petrol engines: a 2.5-litre five-cylinder and a 3.6-litre V6.
Having looked at these too cars I would like to look at a few factors that are used to determine fuel economy as this is a factor that influences the purchasing decisions of many car shoppers.
Knowing a vehicle’s fuel efficiency not only gives you a better idea of the monthly costs of the vehicle, but can also help you decide between two models.
City vs Highway
A key element in assessing the EPA rating for a vehicle’s average fuel economy (EPA combined) is the split between highway and city driving.
Almost all cars and trucks deliver better fuel economy while cruising at 80kmph on the open highway than they do while stopping and starting at low speed on city streets.
The EPA rating for combined km/litre presumes that we drive 55 percent of the time in the city and 45 percent of the time on the highway.
Most people simply assume that is the case with their own driving. But many motorists — especially those in urban regions with lots of traffic congestion — spend far more time driving in city conditions than they do on the open road.
If you diligently keep track of the number of kilometres that you are really driving at highway speeds each day for a month or so, you might find that you really are doing most of your driving at less efficient city speeds.
If you have a newer vehicle with a tripmeter that displays your average speed, keeping track is easy.
Just set it to zero each morning, and then check each evening for your actual average speed for the day.
At the top of the list is how much city driving the car does. The proportion of stop-and-go driving could reduce the EPA combined city/highway fuel efficiency for a particular vehicle by as much as 27 percent, they say.
Individual driving style can cause the second biggest variation, lowering fuel efficiency by up to 18 percent.
“Calm” drivers, those motorists who do not accelerate constantly and who avoid unnecessary lane changes, get 35 percent better fuel economy than other drivers.
Other factors in play are air-conditioner use (up to 14 percent reduction in fuel efficiency), vehicle size (up to 15 percent reduction) and the region in which the vehicle is primarily operated (up to 12 percent less fuel efficiency).
Hot weather and mountainous conditions normally take a toll on fuel economy.
Fuel type also affects mileage. So be sure to stick to one brand, don’t mix the E10 one moment then use unleaded, stick to one.
Be honest about your driving. The point here is that the common advertising disclaimer of “your mileage will vary” is something every car shopper must take seriously.
Honestly assessing your specific situation is the only way to adjust the EPA ratings down — or up — to more accurately reflect the fuel economy you can expect to see once the car is yours.
One way to do a reality check on a car’s EPA rating is to deduct 10 percent from it if you consider yourself an aggressive driver.
This means someone who routinely exceeds speed limits and hurries away from stop signs and red lights.
You can stick with the EPA rating if you consider yourself an efficient driver. You would need to re-evaluate that self-description if you find that your car or truck is consistently failing to achieve the rated combined average.
Real-world fuel economy can also be diminished if you use air-conditioning a lot, haul heavy loads of cargo or passengers, or even live at the top of a hill.

l Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] & facebook:- torque with fact jeke