Suzuki Alto Achieves 118 mpg US in City Driving in Australia

3 November 2009

After a successful New Zealand North-South drive at an average of 64 mpg Imp. (4.4 L/100km, 53.3 mpg US) last month, a Suzuki Alto has taken part in a further MPG marathon, this time down through Australia, managing to complete the journey at an average consumption of 72 mpg Imp. (3.9 L/100km, 60 mpg US) overall, an 18.5% improvement over the official Australian combined figure (+13% over the European figure). It also reached achieved 141 mpg Imp.(2.0 L/100km, 118 mpg US)in City traffic—the lowest recorded of any entered vehicle.

Using a simple combination of lightweight design, aerodynamic efficiency and a small and efficient 1.0-liter gasoline engine, the Alto managed to outrank similar size diesel cars including the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Turbo Diesel and MINI Cooper D which recorded an overall improvement in mpg of 15.4% and 12.2% respectively.

The Global Green Challenge ran North-South from Darwin to Adelaide and placed conventional and alternative fuel cars against each other in a 1,900 mile real world test. The winner of the challenge was the vehicle judged to have recorded the biggest improvement over its official fuel consumption figure.

Alto won the ‘Light’ and ‘Small’ car categories; ‘best urban cycle’ category and an overall CO₂ emission of 89.9 g/km, using just 123 litres of fuel for the seven day trip.

Conditions on the run were tough for drivers and cars alike, with most teams opting to turn off the air conditioning to save fuel even in temperatures soaring to 43 °C (109.4 °F).