Everyone dreams of buying a new car. Gleaming cars in the showroom, attractive mileage figures printed on the brochures and the salesman's assurance – 'Sir, it will give 25 kmpl comfortably'. A reality check happens a few months after purchasing the car. In city traffic, with AC on, the mileage drops to 15-18 kmpl in normal driving style. Sometimes it is available up to 30% less.
This is not a human error, but a systematic gap that exists between ARAI testing and real world conditions. Companies attract customers by making tall claims in advertisements, but in reality the customer bears the brunt of expensive petrol. This fraud is so common that every person buying a car should know about it before doing so.
This problem in claimed mileage
ARAI testing takes place in the lab, where perfect conditions are created. The car is run on a dynamometer (roller), the air conditioning is kept off, the driving style is computer simulated and very smooth. The distance is limited and there are no real life problems like traffic, potholes, load or fast acceleration. Result: ARAI figure often appears 20-35% higher. For example, if the company claims 22-25 kmpl, then it is normal to get only 15-18 kmpl in the city.
Why less if you drive yourself?
In the real world, many factors affect mileage. The biggest villain is AC itself. It is difficult to run without AC in the Indian summer, but in the test it is kept off. Idling, bad roads, overloading, fuel adulteration, aggressive driving and high speed highways also contribute to traffic jams. This gap is more visible in small petrol hatchbacks, whereas it is slightly less in diesel or larger engine vehicles. Many users report that the mileage is close to ARAI on the highway, but there is a huge drop in the city.
Companies say wrong?
This problem is not new. Car buyers have been complaining for years. Companies use it as a marketing tool, because mileage is the biggest factor in India. small asterisks in the brochure
It is written with 'ARAI certified, ideal conditions', but the common man ignores it. The result is disappointment after purchase. If we reduce the ARAI figure by 25-30% then a realistic estimate can be made.
- What to do before buying a new car?
- Do not trust the ARAI figure, instead look or read real user reviews.
- Calculate based on your city's traffic, driving style and usage.
- Check it out yourself on a test drive. With AC on, how much is it giving at normal speed?
- Maintain correct tire pressure and get regular servicing done.
- Do not carry unnecessary weight and adopt smooth driving.
Also consider CNG or hybrid options.