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Current EPA testing procedure through 2007
Two separate fuel economy tests simulate city driving and highway driving: the city driving program consists of starting with a cold engine and making 23 stops over a period of 31 minutes for an average speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and with a top speed of 56 mph (90 km/h); the highway program uses a warmed-up engine and makes no stops, averaging 48 mph (77 km/h) with a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) over a 10 mile (16 km) distance. The measurements are then adjusted downward by 10% (city) and 22% (highway) to more accurately reflect real-world results. A weight average of city (55%) and highway (45%) fuel economies is used to determine the tax.[10]

In some cases, this tax may only apply to certain variants of a given model - for example, the 2004?2006 Pontiac GTO did incur the tax when ordered with the four-speed automatic transmission, but did not incur the tax when ordered with the six-speed manual transmission.

Because EPA figures are almost always higher than real-world mileage, EPA has modified the method starting with 2008.


New 2008- EPA testing procedure
As a means of reflecting real world fuel economy more accurately, the EPA adds three new tests [11] that will combine with the current city and highway cycles to determine fuel economy of new vehicles, beginning with the 2008 model year.
A high speed/quick acceleration loops lasts 10 minutes, covers 8 miles (13 km), averages 48 mph (77 km/h) and reaches a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h). Four stops are included, and brisk acceleration maximizes at a rate of 8.46 mph (13.62 km/h) per second. The engine begins warm and air conditioning is not used. Ambient temperature varies between 68 to 86 °F (30 °C).

The air conditioning test raises ambient temperatures to 95 °F (35 °C), and the vehicle's climate control system is put to use. Lasting 9.9 minutes, the 3.6-mile (5.8 km) loop averages 22 mph (35 km/h) and maximizes at a rate of 54.8 mph (88.2 km/h). Five stops are included, idling occurs 19 percent of the time and acceleration of 5.1 mph/sec is achieved. Engine temperatures begin warm. Lastly, a cold temperature cycle uses the same parameters as the current city loop, except that ambient temperature is set to 20 °F (?7 °C).

Wait Till You Hear This . . .

In establishing the speed trace, the authorities had to allow for all the types of vehicle that would have to be put through it, including very slow ones. This leads to the amazing statistic that the time allowed for the 0-100km/h (0-62mph) part of the test is FIFTY SECONDS! Clearly, high-performance cars are not extended at all - the tricky bit is trying to make sure they don't accelerate more quickly - and it might seem that this immediately invalidates the test. On the other hand, there is a balance involved in the fact that the test doesn't include the equivalent of, for example, long periods of very light-throttle motorway cruising, when real-world fuel economy is much better than it tends to be in the lab.

At the end of the test, four bags of gas are taken for sample. Two are filled with the exhaust produced by the car during the Urban and Extra Urban periods of the test. The other two are filled with air taken from the lab (and therefore sucked in by the car's induction system) during each period; these may differ from each other by minute amounts, and they are required for comparison because there may be more of a certain gas floating around in the lab than the car itself produces. It's the difference between the ambient air and the exhaust emission that determines figures, not simply the emission itself.

Ford S-Max 20TDCi - + 22%
Lancia Ypsilon 1.4 16v - +35%
Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi - + 43%
Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI - +37%
Renaul Twingo 1.5dCi - +37%
Toyota auris D-4D - + 30%
Toyota Rav4 2.2 D-4D - +17%
Toyota Yaris 1.0 - +33%
Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D - +29%
Volvo V50 2.0D - +19%
VW Golf 2.0TDU GT - +20%
VW Passat 2.0 TDI - +34%
Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTD - +28%
Audi A6 3.0 TDI - +23%
BMW 118d - +47%
Fiat Bravo 1.9 MJT - +37%
Fiat Croma 1.9 MJT - +23%
BMW X5 3.0d - +37%
Citroen C1 1.0 - +30%
Fiat 500 1.2 - +37%
Fiat Punto  1.4 - +28%
Fiat Panda 1.2 - +21%
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi - +365

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