Fuel economy isn’t getting worse the testing is getting better!

Have you ever wondered why you never get the same fuel consumption that it stated in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.  I often overheard consumers reporting that they could not meet the label values. National Resources Canada has changed the methodology for determining the fuel consumption ratings for all  new vehicles. In order to better approximate typical driving conditions/behaviors, the government aligned with the methodology used in the US and is moving from 2-cycle testing to 5-cycle testing.  The 2 –cycle testing system focuses on city and highway ratings.  Moving forward to model year 2015 vehicles, the methodology will include three additional tests that account for air conditioner usage, cold temperature operation and driving at higher speeds with more rapid acceleration and braking.  This is referred to as the 5-cycle testing procedure. The new and improved fuel consumption ratings will appear on model year 2015 vehicles.

How and  where you drive will determine your fuel consumption. For more in-depth details please visit www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca.