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Does your SUV, ute or car match its fuel consumption claim?

person pumping fuel into car
RACV

August 01, 2025

How accurate are carmakers' fuel efficiency claims for their SUVs, utes, sedans, and hatches? Australia's Real-World Testing Program reveals that popular vehicles consume more fuel than advertised. Explore the results and see how various makes and models stack up.

New vehicle testing by the nation’s peak motoring body has again shown consumers cannot rely on the fuel consumption and emissions information provided at point of sale, with 25 of the latest 30 cars tested consuming more fuel than advertised.

The Australian Automobile Association's (AAA) Real-World Testing Program measures the on-road fuel use and emissions performance of new Australian vehicles and compares these with the figures produced by carmakers in their respective mandated laboratory tests.

The Program’s latest batch of 30 vehicles found 11 cars consuming 10 per cent or more fuel than advertised. The Hyundai Kona Hybrid recorded the greatest discrepancy, using 33 per cent more fuel on-road than in its laboratory test, with the Kia Stonic (26 per cent more fuel), Hyundai i30 Hybrid (17 per cent), Toyota Fortuner (16 per cent), and the Kia Sportage Hybrid (14 per cent) rounding out the top five for discrepancies recorded. See the full list of results below).

Testing also showed six of the 30 vehicles produced noxious emissions above current Australian regulatory limits, despite these same vehicle types having met those limits in laboratory tests.

Use the fuel finder in the RACV App to see where you can fill up for less.

Toyota Camry Hybrid on the road

The Toyota Fortuner consumed 16 per cent more fuel than advertised, the AAA’s Real-World Testing Program found.

More than 70 per cent of vehicles tested used more fuel than advertised

The AAA Program has now tested 114 popular cars, vans and utes since August 2023, with more than three-quarters (77 per cent) found to be using more fuel than advertised.

AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley says it’s becoming clear that carmakers continue to optimise their vehicles’ performance for lab testing, meaning new cars are too often over-stating their improvements in fuel use and environmental performance.

“Some vehicles perform as advertised, but most do not, and our Program is seeking to reward carmakers that deliver genuine financial and environmental savings," he says.

Looking for ways to save on fuel?

EV plugged in to public charger

The AAA Program’s scope will expand with the release of its first electric vehicle results in 2025.

Australia’s Real-World Testing Program will expand to include electric vehicles

The AAA Program’s scope will next month expand with the release of its first electric vehicle results, checking the distance vehicles can travel on a single charge in real driving conditions.

“Range anxiety continues to be a significant barrier to EV uptake, and we hope these independent results will give Australian car-buyers far greater confidence about the real-world range of new EVs on the market," Bradley says.

More: The cheapest electric cars in Australia

Australia’s Real-World Testing Program for fuel efficiency

The AAA Real-World Testing Program is funded by the Commonwealth with bipartisan support and will test up to 200 of Australia’s most popular makes and models.

Its creation followed the Volkswagen scandal of 2015, which demonstrated that regulation of vehicle emissions incentivises carmakers to optimise laboratory performance. This means that laboratory results cannot be relied upon to replicate real-world performance, which can be misleading for consumers and regulators alike.

Independent, real-world data becomes increasingly important as pressure mounts on carmakers to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from their new vehicles and comply with the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard which began on 1 July.

The Program tests cars on roads in and around Geelong. It uses strict test protocols to ensure fuel consumption and emissions results are repeatable and to minimise the influence of human factors such as driving style and changing traffic flows.

Before launching the Program, the AAA conducted more than 20 tests on its reference vehicle (a Toyota RAV4) with test protocols found to deliver results varying by less than 2.5 per cent.

More: How to save money on fuel

Untitled design - 1

The AAA’s Real-World Testing Program found the MG3 consumed 12 per cent more fuel than advertised.

Small cars: Real-world fuel efficiency 

Three small cars were tested in the latest round, with fuel consumption discrepancies found in the Mazda3, (+13%) and MG3 (+12%). See the table below for full details.

Earlier tests of popular models in this segment include the Mazda2, (+35%), Suzuki Swift Hybrid (+31%) and MG5 (+21%), as well as the Toyota Corolla 2.0-litre petrol (6.0L/100km, +3%), Mazda3 2.0-litre petrol (6.2L/100km, +3%) and MG3 1.5-litre petrol (7.9L/100km, +19%).

More: Australia’s best, affordable, new first cars

Small cars
Small cars

Lab fuel result

Real-world test result

Difference

Mazda3

Lab fuel result

6.6L/100km

Real-world test result

7.4L/100km

Difference

+13%

MG3

Lab fuel result

6.0L/100km

Real-world test result

 6.7L/100km

Difference

+12%

Hyundai i30 Hybrid

Lab fuel result

3.9L/100km

Real-world test result

4.6L/100km

Difference

+17%

Note: the higher the percentage number the worse the efficiency. Source: AAA Real-World Testing Program

Kia Stonic on the road

The Kia Stonic small SUV used 26 per cent more fuel than the mandated lab test, the AAA says.

Small SUVs: Real-world fuel efficiency

Eight small SUVs were tested in the latest round, with fuel consumption discrepancies found in seven vehicles.

Popular small SUVs tested in earlier rounds include the Kia Seltos 1.6-litre turbo-petrol (8.3L/100km, +12%), Hyundai Venue 1.6-litre petrol (7.3L/100km, +1%), Mazda CX-3 (6.8L/100km, +11%), Subaru Crosstrek (7.4L/100km, +2%), Volkswagen T-Roc (6.4L/100km, +1%) and GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid (6.6L/100km, +32%).

More: Australia’s best small and compact SUVs

Small SUVs
Small SUVs

Lab fuel result

Real-world test result

Difference

Mazda CX-30

Lab fuel result

6.3/100km

Real-world test result

6.4L/100km

Difference

+1%

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Lab fuel result

7.3L/100km

Real-world test result

 7.4L/100km

Difference

-2%

Hyundai Kona Hybrid

Lab fuel result

3.9L/100km

Real-world test result

5.2L/100km

Difference

+33%

Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid

Lab fuel result

4.0L/100km

Real-world test result

4.5L/100km

Difference

+12%

Kia Stonic

Lab fuel result

5.4L/100km

Real-world test result

6.8L/100km

Difference

+26%

VW T-Cross

Lab fuel result

5.6L/100km

Real-world test result

5.8L/100km

Difference

+4%

Suzuki Vitara

Lab fuel result

5.9L/100km

Real-world test result

6.3L/100km

Difference

+7%

BMW X1

Lab fuel result

6.5L/100km

Real-world test result

6.7L/100km

Difference

+4%

Note: the higher the percentage number the worse the efficiency. Source: AAA Real-World Testing Program

Hyundai Tucson on the road

The Hyundai Tucson consumed 3 per cent more fuel than advertised, according to the AAA testing.

Medium cars and SUVs: Real-world fuel efficiency

One medium car, the Skoda Octavia, and eight medium SUVs were tested in this round (see results below).

Medium SUVs tested in earlier rounds include the Hyundai Tucson 2.0-litre petrol (7.9L/100km, -3%), Kia Sportage 2.0-litre petrol (8.3L/100km, +3%), Honda CR-V 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (8.1L/100km, +14%), MG HS 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (8.8L/100km, -8%) and Chery Omoda 5 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (9.1L/100km, +32%).

More: Australia’s best medium SUVs

Medium cars and SUVs
Medium cars and SUVs

ADR 81/02
lab result

Real-world test result

Difference

Skoda Octavia

ADR 81/02
lab result

5.8L/100km

Real-world test result

6.1L/100km

Difference

+6%

Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

ADR 81/02
lab result

5.3L/100km

Real-world test result

5.7L/100km

Difference

+8%

Lexus NX350h

ADR 81/02
lab result

5.0L/100km

Real-world test result

4.7L/100km

Difference

-7%

Nissan X-Trail Hybrid

ADR 81/02
lab result

6.1L/100km

Real-world test result

6.7L/100km

Difference

+9%

Kia Sportage Hybrid

ADR 81/02
lab result

4.9L/100km

Real-world test result

5.6L/100km

Difference

+14%

Hyundai Tucson

ADR 81/02
lab result

6.7L/100km

Real-world test result

6.9L/100km

Difference

+3%

Mercedes-Benz GLB200

ADR 81/02
lab result

7.5L/100km

Real-world test result

7.6L/100km

Difference

+1%

Mercedes-Benz GLB250

ADR 81/02
lab result

7.9L/100km

Real-world test result

7.6L/100km

Difference

-3%

Mercedes-Benz GLB200

ADR 81/02
lab result

7.5L/100km

Real-world test result

7.4L/100km

Difference

-1%

Note: the higher the percentage number the worse the efficiency. Source: AAA Real-World Testing Program

White Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid large SUV going around a corner on country bitumen road

The Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid large SUV used 10% more fuel than the mandated lab test, the AAA says

Large SUVs: Real-world fuel efficiency

Below are the results for five large SUVs and one people mover.

Large SUVs
Large SUVs

Lab fuel result

Real-world test result

Difference

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Lab fuel result

5.6L/100km

Real-world test result

6.2L/100km

Difference

+10%

Toyota Fortuner

Lab fuel result

7.6L/100km

Real-world test result

8.8L/100km

Difference

+16%

Toyota Prado

Lab fuel result

7.6L/100km

Real-world test result

8.2L/100km

Difference

+8%

Mercedes-Benz GLE300d

Lab fuel result

6.6L/100km

Real-world test result

6.9L/100km

Difference

+4%

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Lab fuel result

8.1L/100km

Real-world test result

8.4L/100km

Difference

+3%

People mover
People mover

ADR 81/02
lab result

Real-world test result

Difference

Hyundai Staria

ADR 81/02
lab result

10.5/100km

Real-world test result

10.6L/100km

Difference

+1%

Note: the higher the percentage number the worse the efficiency. Source: AAA Real-World Testing Program

Nissan X-Trail parked

The Nissan X-Trail e-Power used 9 per cent more fuel than the mandated lab test, the AAA says.

Utes and vans: Real-world fuel efficiency

The latest round of real-world fuel testing includes the Ford Ranger. In addition, three vans were tested.

Ute
Ute

Lab test result

Real-world test result

Difference

Ford Ranger

Lab test result

8.4/100km

Real-world test result

8.9L/100km

Difference

+6%

Vans
Vans

Lab test result

Real-world test result

Difference

Toyota Hi-Ace LWB

Lab test result

7.9/100km

Real-world test result

8.7L/100km

Difference

+10%

Toyota Hi-Ace SLWB

Lab test result

8.1L/100km

Real-world test result

9.0L/100km

Difference

+11%

Ford Transit Custom

Lab test result

8.0L/100km

Real-world test result

7.2L/100km

Difference

-9%

Note: the higher the percentage number the worse the efficiency. Source: AAA Real-World Testing Program

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