My 2024 Mazda BT-50 has travelled 4100km and fuel consumption is now 12-litres/100km. I'm told it will improve as I get to 6000km. I'm doing long runs from a country town and driving around a town. It started off at 9.0-litres/100km. With fuel prices rising, will it improve as the dealer says?
The fact that the fuel economy average seems to be creeping up can have a lot to do with the fact that you’re becoming more familiar with the vehicle and using more throttle as a result. But remember, too, that until you reset the average on the trip computer, what you’re seeing is the full history of your consumption from when the trip computer was last zeroed, not just the most recent trip you’ve done.
It's true that engines often start to use a little less fuel as they 'bed in’ after a few thousand kilometres. And for a modern turbo-diesel like yours, I reckon 10,000km or even 15,000km might be the magic number. However, don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t come down a whole lot. I reckon for that vehicle, driven the way you’ve described, 10 or 11 litres per 100km isn’t a bad average to aim for.
Other factors play a big part, too. Does the vehicle have a bull-bar or roof racks? Both these add weight and aerodynamic drag respectively, and can easily make the car consume more fuel. A roof rack at 100km/h can be worth an extra litre per 100km.