Why won't our new Audi A3 achieve its quoted fuel consumption figures?
At the end of May my wife took delivery of a new Audi A3 1.6TDI Technik convertible. Within three weeks the hood developed a hole and the car was off the road for two weeks for a new hood. The radio never worked from new and has only just been replaced. One of the main reasons for buying this car was the claimed fuel economy - over 70mpg on the extra urban and over 65 mpg combined. To date, and with careful driving, we have yet to better 47mpg. We have taken issue with Audi over this and the garage has been helpful to the point of offering to replace the vehicle on a like-for-like basis (bearing in mind the other problems we have had). We have heard from other people that this engine is the problem, in which case we would have to think of an alternative power unit - possibly the 2.0 TDI. What are your thoughts on this engine and have you heard other complaints about it?
Asked on 22 October 2010 by BD, Brigg
Answered by
Honest John
70mpg is not the "claimed fuel consumption". It is the certified estimate from weighing CO2 during the EC tests that determine the car's tax category. These figures are meaningless for everyday use. Yes, there have been a few grumbles about the real life economy of the VAG 1.6TDI. Though I have driven it in various cars the best I have so far managed is 49mpg, I'd go for the 1.4TSI 122 engine instead, sacrificing a few mpg but gaining a nicer and potentially much more reliable chain-cam rather than belt-cam engine.
Real MPG enables you to register the fuel economy you are actually getting against your make and model of car, its engine and type of transmission.
Every time you enter an average consumption figure against your car, the overall average automatically adjusts to reflect it.
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