mileage column

I can see that the mileage column is blank for many cars even though they have been launched quite some time now. That is one of the important pointer people look for. Is it because there is no authenticated figure for those or are there any regulations to be followed by Carwale before they post the mileage of cars. The first thing that I look for in a comparison is the mileage.

Aditionally, is there an Indian equivalent of EPA milages? - In the US, EPA tests each production car for city and highway fuel efficiencies in standardized test conditions, and also has a fixed formula for combined averages, so one gets an overall idea of what to expect out of the car

Mileage is a very imp part for us ( Indian ) in a buying process of a vehicle, also for the manufacturers in selling process. And to make it easy, convenient and clear for all, SIAM ( Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers ) has took a new initiative.

It is made compulsory that all the automobile manufacturers  has to display its vehicle's mileage as per CMRV ( Central Motors Vehicle Rule ) by 31st March 09. And this is already been adapted by Maruti Suzuki, from 1st Jan 09. Pls go thru this link. http://www.marutisuzuki.com/Maruti-Suzuki-displays-Fuel-Efficiency-of-its-12-brands-from-the-New-Year.aspx

The mileage test will be conducted in a standard method and it will vary with the driving conditions. The benefit of this test is, it will be similar for all the models, and this test will be conducted by Govt. Agencies like ARAI ( Automotive Research Association of India ), VRDE ( Vehicle Research Development Establishment ) and ICAT ( International Centre for Automotive Technology ).

This test will help the buyers to judge the vehicle in the Mileage parameter. It wont lead into any other confusion. As mileage stated by magazines, websites, auto journalists, etc will differ,  and most of the time it creates confusion.

Mileage purely depends upon the driving conditions, driving ability, and lots of other parameters, even small things like air, fuel's quantity and quality, quantity of luggage, no's of occupants. There are more points to add if wanted.

And this initiative taken by SIAM will be definitely helpful to all the buyers.

@DD: I hope Ban will take notice of the same.

--------------

I just took a glance at the link. These are figures which cant be digested. There are FE figures which would be attained be person while driving on highways. Whereas the test cover aspects like City, Highways and mixed. Like how car magazines do it. It should also be driven for a distance say 1000 kms. Such details are not present on maruti website.

@ Ami.

I agree that auto journalist do their job well, and they will keep doing it. But the mileage extracted by them will differ, all mags will never come with same mileage. As mileage depends on lot many factors.

As mentioned earlier these mileage is conducted by Govt. Agencies, in a standard test condition. This test is conducted in a lab using a standard fuel. Load of 2 persons with AC off. Time is for 20 mins with fixed gear and speed changes.

The mileage in practical conditions will vary with traffic, time, road conditions, driving style, fuel type used, tyre pressure, maintainance, weight, etc.

This test is useful because this same test is conducted for all cars by the mentioned certified agencies. So comparing different vehicles fuel effeciency is easy and fair.

Not only in India, such type of tests are conducted in overseas also. In USA - Agency EPA ( Environmental Protection Agency ) and in Europe - Agency ECE ( United Nations Economic Commission of Europe ).

This initiative is taken into consideration that it will help both the buyer and seller for easy and fair process, when it comes to fuel economy part.

And about mileage,  i have an example to give. Though the home appliances remains same, why the electricity bill differs. Because of our usage pattern. We never blame the electricity board for the fluctuation in our bills and comparing to others.

I am not offending you or defending myself, i just wanted to create an awareness among all to help them making their purchase process easy and effecient. And also such awareness about fuel effeciency may help all in one or the other way.

For more details about SIAM, visit www.siamindia.com

In kerala ppl do that.

Jokes apart, My point was that the FE test should yield a result that is +/- 1KMPL from what a normal person would get. In my opinion this would have more importance and significance.

I had faced a couple of cases recently, couple of my friends went to check A-star. I told them about the pros and cons. They went and checked the car. All of them came and told me they are going to book the car despite the fact that they dont like the rear seats. I asked them why?. They said because of the 19.8KMPL FE!!!. It took me a lil time to explain how this testing is done. Then also they were half convinced. There are lot of cases like these. A common man wont know how is the testing done nor do the executives explain it to them. They would go ahead and buy the car, and then end up disappointed as they would get this FE only by driving on highways with AC off.

This is the reason why I suggested an alternative, which would be a realistic. Auto mag's were quoted as an example as I've seen theirs to match the figures in real life scenarios.

You have not offended me at all and I hope I have not done the same to you. Cheers .

Basis of a good discussion is disagreement, which would lead to unravelling both sides of the story. So lets keep disagreeing (in a Sporty fashion).

Unfortunately your joke is a fact. And i am sorry to admit that it happens in kerala.

Ya its a fact that to get the sale most the SP's ( Sales Person ) end up misguiding the cust. Sometimes they even present the best part as the worst. I have got lots of experience. But in the coming times this data wud be helpful when all the manufacturers show the mileage. The plus point is that the method is same for all. And true effeciency of the engine will be shown. But as for the vehicle, it will be proved on the road only, which is practical.

But this test will definitely prove what the engine is worth of,to some extent the vehicle. And mileage, man its a big issue if started talking. And it will end up in searching the black cat in the dark room,which is not there. Till now Auto mags were the best source, but in that test, most of the time, it would be different drivers, (Eg A will be driving i10 & B will be driving A-star ), the driving pattern for both of them will be different.The usage of acceleration, cluth, brakes, ac, will be different for both the drivers, and in this point of time whom should we rely.

But as per SIAM, this test will be uniform for all, and once its done for all, consumer wont be misguided. The current scenerio is that if we ask two separate person of a same co. about the mileage, both of their answers will be different. But in future it wont be, as all will say the same figure. let it be in kerala or kashmir, gujarat or assam. It will benefit the customers to make buying decision easy.

Ami, can just do me a favour by brining more people into this thread, so that they are also aware about this topic.

i think it would be helpful for them also.

I dont know how to do that. We can hope out best that ppl will see this thread and respond.

Nammude Keralam super alle. (Our kerala is superb)

The exception pointed out in auto mag FE calculation would still apply for any testing. However the variation would be small.

The SIAM strategy looks better, hope they dont test the car like ARAI. Wherein the provide the FE near the maximum.

@MODS: I just noiticed that this thread is in a wrong section. Please move it accordingly.