Bad News for BMW and Audi Fans: Tests Show These Vehicles Use Far More Fuel Than Advertised

According to a study conducted by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the BMW X3 consumes about 20% more fuel in real-world driving than its official rating suggests. Another popular German crossover, the Audi Q5, was found to use 17% more fuel than claimed.

The association tested several popular vehicles. In addition to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, the lineup included the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 (both gasoline and hybrid versions), Mitsubishi Outlander, MG HS, Kia Sportage, Kia Carnival, and Hyundai Tucson.

The crossovers were evaluated in both dry and wet conditions, with ambient temperatures ranging from 63 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (17–22°C). Wind speeds during testing reached up to 17 mph (28 km/h).

Beyond BMW and Audi, several other models also exceeded their official fuel consumption figures. The gasoline-powered Toyota RAV4 used 13% more fuel than advertised, while the hybrid version exceeded its rating by 2%. The Kia Sportage consumed 5% more fuel than claimed, the Mitsubishi Outlander 4% more, and the MG HS 1% more.

Other vehicles performed better than expected. The Kia Carnival proved to be the most efficient relative to its rating, using 7% less fuel than stated by the manufacturer.

The Nissan X-Trail ranked second, consuming 2% less than its official figure, followed by the Hyundai Tucson, which used 1% less fuel than advertised.