Question

G'day

I have a 2014 2.0-litre Mazda 3 Auto. I can get in the city about 6.5 - 7 litres/100kms. Today I have just done 580kms country driving and got 6.8 litres/100kms. My previous car which was on LPG got 16 litres/100kms city driving but got 7 litres /100kms country driving. Is there a problem with my Mazda

Thanks, Mick

Answer

The short answer is no. As far as fuel usage goes in the real world, small cars with small normally aspirated engines are typically good on fuel in suburban driving, but out on the open road and at freeway speeds the low torque engines are working a little bit harder and use more fuel than you would expect (although not bad at all). The other car you mention more than likely had a larger capacity engine and was a heavier car, such as a six-cylinder Falcon. That car will chew fuel/gas around town as it has to move its mass from a standstill more often but out on the open road the six cylinder comes into its own using its torque at low revs to effortlessly putt along a freeway. The fuel economy you are getting is perfectly normal and on par with fuel economy testing we have done with that vehicle.