- Remi Blondet
Frugal Avensis does 75mpg
24 July 2003: Fuel consumption of more than 75mpg has been returned in an Avensis 2.0-litre D-4D saloon – by a Toyota motorist driving the length of Britain on a charity run.
Alan Phillips completed his 839-mile journey from John O' Groat’s to Land's End on a single 60-litre tank of diesel with 10 litres to spare. His fuel economy was 30 per cent better than the 57.6mpg official extra-urban cycle figure for the new Avensis.
The marathon drive is expected to raise more than £1,000 in sponsorship for Children In Need.
Alan, from Nottingham, works as a buyer and company fleet manager for a pet products business. His own daily transport is a 1.8-litre petrol Avensis.
Alan set off at one o'clock in the morning and reached Land’s End at 7pm. By half way he was averaging 45mph and 78.3mpg; by Worcester the tank was still half-full. His highest reading, 81.3mpg, came at the end of the M5, but this figure was whittled down on the hills of the A30 to Land’s End.
The Avensis, with its 114bhp direct-injection common rail diesel engine, weighs in at 1970kg and its official consumption on the combined cycle is 48.7mpg.
The high mpg achieved in economy testing demands special driving techniques. These include gradual acceleration to cruising speed, the maintenance of a constant speed wherever possible and the avoidance of unnecessary gear changes and excessive braking and acceleration. The calculation of official fuel consumption figures is linked to more typical, everyday driving behaviour.
©2003 irishcar.com