Why won't my Alfa Romeo Giulietta return the quoted mpg figure of 54mpg?

The mpg on my Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 MultiAir TCT has worsened to a combined 26.4mpg. I have just got it back from the dealer today after having it checked and they have said there is nothing wrong with it after some checks, but they have reset the gearbox to its factory settings. Alfa Romeo Customer relations called me today to say that although their combined mileage is stated as 54mpg in the brochure it’s only a guideline that they got from an independent company tested on one car in completely different conditions. In short, she said there was no guarantee that I would get near to 54mpg and that I was misled by dealers who said that I would.

Asked on 9 January 2012 by MV, via email

Answered by Honest John
Other readers are doing a bit better than you with Giulietta 1.4MultiAir TCTs, but, as you were told, the EC Combined test figure is for an EC test and bears no relation to what real drivers can expect in real life. Manufacturers are compelled by EC law to give only the EC figure. That's why we run www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg

Today I drove a new Fiat Punto 875 TwinAir for 40 gentle cross country miles. The EC figure is 67.3mpg combined. I got 46.6mpg. This is not caused by a heavy right foot because my own Fiat 500 1.2 petrol model (that I drove to and from the Punto test location) is currently averaging 53.2mpg.
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