Why is our Corsa ecoFLEX only returning 43mpg?

My wife recently purchased a new Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi (75) ecoFLEX from a main dealer. She does a 130 mile daily commute, only around six miles of which is motorway. We explained the route, use of the vehicle and explained it was to replace a 1.6l diesel car that achieved an average of 55 mpg. Fuel economy is vital. Insurance was important as we need to insure our 17-year-old son. The sales person stated that the Corsa would do significantly better mpg, (around 60mpg even in the conditions described) than our old car and that the insurance would be considerably lower. Neither has proved accurate. Insurance has gone up and my wife has achieved only 43mpg covering the route described. I feel the car has been mis-sold. What are my options?

Asked on 17 August 2013 by CB, Purley on Thames

Answered by Honest John
If a Corsa 1.3 CDTI 75 Ecoflex is only achieving an average 43mpg then there is something seriously wrong with it. In this sort of use it should achieve a genuine real life mpg of 60mpg plus. I know because I have done this. Maybe the brakes are binding. Maybe it has been fitted with the wrong gearing.
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