[deep_bang]

Well, if we should have a city and highway mileage we would need to have a Bangalore mileage and a Delhi mileage. Cause they will be different too....

[NaXal]

Every one is making fun but I kind of like this approach.

Not because the FIR would actually rain in any benefit or relief but unfortunately when our government agencies are always on sleep mode, India needs such drama to grab attention to the underlying issues.

ARAI figures are really misleading.

Anyone with little mileage oriented driving in expressway can push up the figure by almost 60/70% extra. With some diesel cars, professionals can actually double the ARAI figures.

But when you come down to rush hour bumper to bumper city traffic with typical Indian hot summer, you can end up getting 30/40% of the actual ARAI claim.

Matter of fact even government departments too hire their fleet with "realistic" mileage figures in mind. Payments are not based on ARAI figures, rather almost half of that usually.

When this testing method is universally accepted as "faulty" & have no practical purposes, then shouldn't their testing method need an overhaul?

How they should test or should they publish different figures for "city" or "highway" are something debatable but they need to modify is somewhat universally agreed.

These type of "drama" is needed to catch media attention & bring down the spotlight on the issue. Unfortunately our lawmakers are only interested in issues which are having spotlight & grabbing media attention to attach their names alongside.

[bigron]

Originally Posted by JayKis

If the Company has advertised 16kmpl on highway and the customer is not getting that mileage, the customer has every right to question it, right?

No. Because the fuel figure is followed by an Astrix (*) notifying that actual mileage may vary depending upon various factors and driving conditions, all of which cannot be taken into consideration at the time of closed testing. Plus the figure is given by the manufacturer after an ARAI certification.

However, one can move HC court in writ or maybe even PIL asking ARAI to amend its rules and bring it at par so it reflects actual driving scenarios.

[jaaz]

So, Deccan herald is better than Times of India, for accurate reporting.

Coming to mileage, we normally calculate 60-65% of the ARAI mileage, for Bangalore City traffic. If the ARAI mileage figure is 16, then the expected mileage should be around 9.6 to 10.4 kms per litre. But, 5 kmpl is not only below average, but dismal.

It's good that someone has taken the initiative to highlight the plight of vehicle users. It's just a compass, not a tank.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by jaaz

But, 5 kmpl is not only below average, but dismal.

I'm sorry but its exactly what should be expected from a petrol automatic SUV that tips the scale around 2 tonnes. Please name one that gives better mileage with these specifications. If none - this is "as expected" and not dismal at all.

[ashlil]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

The weather report on TV said sunny and bright so I did not carry an umbrella. Hell it rained and ruined my suit. Where are my lawyers, I need to sue the weather man.

You mean to say the weatherman created the weather?
I am merely trying to point out the error in your logic. The weatherman did not create the weather. However, the company created the car and deliberately mislead the customer about the mileage (albeit with an asterisk). FIR should be filed for cheating (IPC 420). However, the dishonest and downright false certificate from ARAI might save them from being prosecuted.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by ashlil

The weatherman did not create the weather. However, the company created the car and deliberately mislead the customer about the mileage (albeit with an asterisk). FIR should be filed for cheating (IPC 420). However, the dishonest and downright false certificate from ARAI might save them from being prosecuted.

Well if you really insist on seeing someone in the witness box - it would have to be the sales executives at most. They "assured" the 16 kmpl mileage. Fiat or any other manufacturer does NOT assure any mileage. Ever. It is something to be used only as a benchmark and I see nothing wrong in it at all.

The ARAI rating is a "certified mileage achieved in standard test conditions". It is not binding, nor is it guaranteed. It only gives a tested reference point. The conditions under which the test happens are easily available in public domain. Neither ARAI nor any car maker claims that they'll ensure this number is achieved. So no - this absolutely is not cheating. Not doing proper study of facts before buying a product falls in the category of ignorance & not cheating.

It will fall into cheating if the car gives significantly less than the certified mileage (there should be tolerance error level per individual unit also) if tested again in ARAI facility. Thats it.

[abhishek46]

There is no point in blaming the manufacturer for this fiasco.
It is ARAI who has designed and certified the efficiency figure.
If there is such a huge difference between ARAI & Real World figures, then it clearly shows that ARAI measurement mechanism is just downright wrong.

ARAI should stop this artificial way of testing the efficiency.
The results from such testing is no doubt misleading the customers (Not all customers are auto experts).

Testing on a rolling road, at some pre-defined speeds, without any AC, I mean what really are they trying to measure?

A real test track with multiple stop and go simulated traffic lights, multiple speed breakers, a highway section, a bad road section, a steep incline section, and idling section etc is the need of the hour.
At least, we will see some real data.

[Hayek]

Don’t think we can blame ARAI or Jeep or anyone other than our municipal authorities. In morning peak hour, the 10 km drive from my home to 2 km from my office takes about 20 minutes and my displayed mileage for that distance is about 10 kmpl. The next 600 metres takes anywhere from 10 minutes to 45 minutes - after which I take another 5 minutes to cover the balance 1.5 km to office. Overall time is 35 minutes to 1 hour 10 to cover 12 km. Overall mileage is anywhere from 6 kmpl to 8 kmpl. How can anyone devise a test for standing still and running the AC. And there are parts of Bombay that are worse off.

[bigron]

Originally Posted by Hayek

Don’t think we can blame ARAI or Jeep or anyone other than our municipal authorities..

When you are the second most populous nation in the world no Municipal Administration will be able to cater to your needs irrespective of their infrastructure or development.

The problem is far deep rooted than a simple road expansion or having one way roads.

[Durango Dude]

Just imagine if this complaint is recorded the MG Hector Petrol DCT owners will make a beeline to the police station, too.

[tejas2323]

Imagine what will be the impact of this news on potential Jeep Compass petrol AT buyers?
This is also alarming in the sense that how much fuel, time and energy is lost due to traffic.
Government seriously needs to come up with some good quality infrastructure so that people will start using public transport more that personal cars.
This will not only save resources but also help in reducing pollution.

[ajmat]

Why a police case? This is one for the consumer courts

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Why a police case? This is one for the consumer courts

In India you go around filing criminal cases for civil matters to set alight the bunsen burner under the defendants pants. Our Police who otherwise may not be co-operative in filing real FIRs can be 'encouraged' to file criminal cases where none exists. Don't ever say service does not exist.

[Sebring]

The only time mileage figures came close was with Hero Honda CD100, that bike actually returned 75KMPL, and promised was 80 in 1991. LOL I think its only in India that auto manufacturers make absurd mileage claims and get away with it. A few cases like this should bring them on track. The Jeep Auto returns about 8KMPL as per a friend, but claims are double.