There’s only a month or so more before our Volvo XC60 goes back and it’s time to address the one part of the small off-roader that we’d change – the fuel consumption.
We’ve averaged 32.3mpg over the first 10,000 miles which is far from impressive even if we’re not that far off the official 37.7mpg.
As any fleet manager will tell you, it’s easier to improve fuel consumption by driving a more economic car than it is to get your drivers to go easy.
BusinessCar is no exception. I’ve done a few eco runs and my best whole-tank run have seen more than 38mpg. However, this took more than just being ‘a bit gentle with the throttle’. The aircon was off for all but the hottest moments. The satnav was also turned off, as were the parking sensors and any other electrical devices that weren’t needed as they all drain a little bit of power (and therefore fuel).
I then kept below the speed limit and worked hard to plan as far ahead as possible for the smoothest progress.
None of which your average company car driver is going to do, even though he’s probably paying for his own fuel.
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