Fuel claims often false

SOME of Australia’s topselling cars guzzle up to 59 per cent more fuel than the claim on their Green Vehicle Guide rating label, a test by Australia’s peak motoring body has found.

That means the fuel bill for the average motorist in a small hatchback is between $500 and $1000 more a year than what the consumption figure on the label indicates.

The Australian Automobile Association tested the consumption and emissions of 30 top-selling vehicles in real world driving conditions and found few cars match their claimed fuel economy and emissions figures.

However, the AAA did not “name and shame” car brands in the $500,000 study.