Toyota, Chery amongst brands unable to fulfill fuel economy claims in real-world testing

The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has put more recent models under the microscope as a part of its Real-World Testing Program, including vehicles it has tested before, and located lots of them can’t match their fuel economy claims.

It tested recent or updated versions of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, MG HS and Toyota Camry, and located that they had larger gaps between their laboratory-based fuel economy claims and results from real-world testing, though the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC improved because the last time they were tested.

The Camry also had the second largest disparity between its official claim and the real-world testing result, at 20 per cent (4.8L/100km vs 4.0L/100km). The mid-size sedan also emitted more CO2 than advertised (112g/km vs 91g/km).

Only the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro small SUV had a wider gap in fuel consumption figures, at 21 per cent (8.8L/100km vs 7.3L/100km). It also emitted 203g/km of CO2, against a lab result claim of 166g/km.

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Other models tested managed to match their fuel consumption claims (the Mercedes-Benz GLA) and even best them (the BMW X5, which had 15 per cent higher fuel economy and 15 per cent lower CO2 emissions).

In 2022, the federal government allocated $14 million to the AAA – the height body for Australia’s state-based motoring clubs, equivalent to the NRMA, RACV and RACQ – to conduct real-world testing of 200 vehicles previously only tested under lab conditions.

Along with testing the fuel economy claims of petrol, diesel and hybrid models, it has also recently announced its first tests of electrical vehicle (EV) range claims.

“Real-world testing is a vital tool to assist consumers and fleet buyers get monetary savings by identifying which cars perform as advertised and which fall short,” said AAA managing director Michael Bradley.

“At a time when regulators around the globe are placing increasingly stringent emissions standards on automobile makers to cut back emissions, Real-World Testing can be producing vital data to point how automobile makers are responding to those requirements.”

The AAA has said the necessity for real-world testing was first demonstrated by the Volkswagen emissions scandal commonly known as Dieselgate, through which Volkswagen vehicles were found to make use of ‘defeat device’ software to trick lab tests, and it claims real-world data is essential in the course of the cost-of-living crisis for households and fleet buyers alike.

However the AAA has been criticised for causing confusion with its real-world testing, which is conducted from a facility in Geelong and on public roads in and across the Victorian city.

“All vehicles, including EVs, sold in Australia are tested under strict laboratory conditions set out in Australian Design Rule 81/02,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber in August.

“This consistent methodology ensures vehicles will be reliably compared, regardless of brand name or model.

“Tests conducted outside the ADR process are influenced by many variables, including traffic, terrain, weather and driving style. No two drivers or journeys are the identical.

“We support transparent, evidence-based information for consumers, nevertheless it should be consistent. When conflicting figures are published, it undermines confidence and causes unnecessary confusion.”

The Electric Vehicle Council also dinged the AAA for its real-world testing of EVs.

Below are the newest fuel consumption results, though you’ll be able to view more detailed overviews for every test vehicle on the AAA website.

All models tested were 2025 examples, aside from the Cupra Formentor and Subaru WRX which were from 2024. Below we’ve detailed the fuel consumption claims and real-world testing results for every of the vehicles within the AAA’s latest round.

SUVs

Passenger cars

Business vehicles