Used Car Return due to Fuel Economy?

Mneil5

I recently bought a 2017 Kia Sportage from an Arnold Clark dealer but since then have experienced very poor fuel economy which means I am going to be around £700 out of pocket on fuel each year compared to a mid-range equivalent. Do my consumer rights cover a 30 day return when it is the fuel economy in question rather than any mechanical fault?

The advertised fuel economy is 37mpg but the actual is around 30mpg. Fuel economy was never mentioned during my interaction with Arnold Clark.

worried_jim

Mneil5 wrote: »

I recently bought a 2017 Kia Sportage from an Arnold Clark dealer but since then have experienced very poor fuel economy which means I am going to be around £700 out of pocket on fuel each year compared to a mid-range equivalent. Do my consumer rights cover a 30 day return when it is the fuel economy in question rather than any mechanical fault?

The advertised fuel economy is 37mpg but the actual is around 30mpg. Fuel economy was never mentioned during my interaction with Arnold Clark.

Real world mpg is 74% of claimed.

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/kia/sportage-2016/

Depending on the journeys you are doing I'd say you are bang on the money.

sevenhills

Mneil5 wrote: »

The advertised fuel economy is 37mpg but the actual is around 30mpg. Fuel economy was never mentioned during my interaction with Arnold Clark.

A quick Google shows - 1.6T GDI 174 - 36.7–38.7 official mpg vs real mpg 30.8 mpg. Did you do any research before you bought the car?



https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/kia/sportage-2016

paddyandstumpy

Who advertises the mpg as 37? The manufacturer?
It's commonly known these figures are rarely achieved in the 'real world'.

Furthermore, how is the advertised 37 mpg achecieved? Town or Motorway?
How do you drive it in comparison?

And how do you drive generally? Like you stole it? Or like a granny?

angrycrow

You are unlikely to ever match the official figures which are provided for comparison only. I work on the principle of reducing the official combined figure by 10, if I can beat that I am happy. I can get one of my cars within 7 of the official combined in normal use. Surprisingly my audi gets within 2 to 3 mpg of its official combined figure, and I am definitely not driving like a granny. Both petrol cars.

Herzlos

Unless you think theres there's s mechanical problem causing the poor fuel economy then it's a case of mis buying.

I always check honest John and assume I'll only get the urban figures. Real econony diverges from manufacturers figures the harder the engine has to work.

30mpg isn't bad.

marlot

Mneil5 wrote: »

The advertised fuel economy is 37mpg but the actual is around 30mpg. Fuel economy was never mentioned during my interaction with Arnold Clark.

Nobody expects to get the official mpg! Those are always with perfect cars in ideal conditions! With the car already warmed up, etc.

You should have done more research before buying. https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/kia/sportage-2016


You didn't ask, so I don't see any claim for mis-selling.

AdrianC

paddyandstumpy wrote: »

Who advertises the mpg as 37? The manufacturer?
It's commonly known these figures are rarely achieved in the 'real world'.

Furthermore, how is the advertised 37 mpg achecieved? Town or Motorway?

Whether the OP had asked about economy or not, it would be illegal for the manufacturer or their representative to quote any economy figures except for the official ones, which are derived from an industry standard test under controlled lab conditions.

For £700/yr difference in fuel costs between 30 and 37mpg, the OP would have to be covering a bit under 20k/year, and spending nearly £4k on fuel.

neilmcl

Mneil5 wrote: »

I recently bought a 2017 Kia Sportage from an Arnold Clark dealer but since then have experienced very poor fuel economy which means I am going to be around £700 out of pocket on fuel each year compared to a mid-range equivalent. Do my consumer rights cover a 30 day return when it is the fuel economy in question rather than any mechanical fault?

The advertised fuel economy is 37mpg but the actual is around 30mpg. Fuel economy was never mentioned during my interaction with Arnold Clark.

How are you "out of pocket". You say you have a car allowance - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5979409/tax-return-with-car-allowance

You have absolutely no right to reject this car based on those fuel economy figures. Manufacturers clearly state that the economy figures are representative and used for comparison between other vehicles and shouldn't be used as real-world driving figures.

elsien

sevenhills wrote: »

A quick Google shows - 1.6T GDI 174 - 36.7–38.7 official mpg vs real mpg 30.8 mpg. Did you do any research before you bought the car?



https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/kia/sportage-2016

Apparently not.

Mneil5 wrote: »

I recently bought a 2017 Kia Sportage from an Arnold Clark dealer but since then have experienced very poor fuel economy which means I am going to be around £700 out of pocket on fuel each year compared to a mid-range equivalent. Do my consumer rights cover a 30 day return when it is the fuel economy in question rather than any mechanical fault?

The advertised fuel economy is 37mpg but the actual is around 30mpg. Fuel economy was never mentioned during my interaction with Arnold Clark.

paddyandstumpy

AdrianC wrote: »

Whether the OP had asked about economy or not, it would be illegal for the manufacturer or their representative to quote any economy figures except for the official ones, which are derived from an industry standard test under controlled lab conditions.

For £700/yr difference in fuel costs between 30 and 37mpg, the OP would have to be covering a bit under 20k/year, and spending nearly £4k on fuel.

Good maths.

If that's the case, dare I suggest that buying a car that only does 37mpg 'officially' is a poor choice when doing that level of mileage.

I do similar mileage for my commute and when I was researching to buy the car I'm in, I ended up with a 1.6 diesel focus, as it was a balance of cheap to buy, tax and still returning over 50mpg. I hate it, but it's the cheapest way of getting me to work!

I wouldn't have considered anything less mpg wise, especially something only in the 30's!