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My 2021 Isuzu MU-X has done 27,000km and I'm not happy with the fuel economy of 12.2 litres per 100km on highway driving. It seems this is an issue as I have spoken to other owners with similar problems. The dealer keeps telling me the vehicle needs to have 30,000km-plus on the clock before the economy improves. Is this right?
It's true that new engines can be 'tight' and this can lead to higher fuel consumption than they achieve with a few more miles on board. And since you're almost at the 30,000km mark now, why not try the dealer's advice and see if things start to improve.
The MU-X was never the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class, but even so, 12.2 litres per 100km on the highway sounds a little excessive (although not as much as you might think). I'd expect this vehicle to return highway fuel economy figures closer to 10 litres per 100km or maybe a bit less.
However, there are several factors that might be skewing your results. The bluff aerodynamics of a vehicle like the MU-X mean that even a slight headwind can increase consumption. So can the addition of accessories such as a bull-bar and roof racks. A set of roof racks on their own can add a litre of fuel to every 100km travelled, and that's if they're not loaded. Throw a spare tyre and some gear up there and it's even worse.
Bigger (taller) tyres can also increase fuel consumption, and so can running your tyres at too low a pressure.
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