The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has released eye-opening findings from its world-first Real-World Testing Program, revealing that fuel consumption and emissions reported by car manufacturers in laboratory tests often don’t match real-world performance. After one year of testing, the program found that some vehicles consumed up to 31% more fuel on the road compared to lab results, with 21 out of 58 tested vehicles producing emissions exceeding regulatory limits.
For example, the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid 2024 model, which advertised a fuel consumption rate of 4.2 litres per 100km in lab tests, was found to consume 4.5 litres per 100km in real-world conditions—a 7% discrepancy. In another case, the Suzuki Swift 2023 was discovered to use 6.3 litres per 100km on the road, a staggering 31% more than the lab-tested rate of 4.8 litres, as reported by The Guardian.
AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley highlighted the potential impact on consumers, who may end up with cars that are more expensive to run and more polluting than expected if they rely solely on lab test results. The AAA’s $14 million, four-year program aims to give buyers a clearer picture by providing real-world data for multiple vehicle models across various classes.
The program’s results are already available to consumers, enabling them to make informed decisions before purchasing a vehicle. Bradley emphasized that real-world testing could lead to more transparency at the point of sale and encourage improvements in vehicle efficiency and environmental impact.
For more details on the findings and to view the full list of tested vehicles, visit realworld.org.au.