How far do you think a Jeep® Compass or Jeep Patriot could travel on a single tank of fuel? Six hundred kilometres? Maybe 650?
Earlier this year, Australian fuel economy experts John and Helen Taylor were challenged by Jeep to see how far they could go in each of these vehicles on just one tank of fuel. They were to take a 1,059-kilometre drive from London to Berlin in two standard production 2.0-litre turbodiesel models.
Under the watchful eyes of two independent scrutineers, one from the British police, who travelled with the Taylors, the husband-and-wife team not only managed to drive the cars between the two European capitals, but had enough fuel left to carry on into Poland. By the time they ran out of fuel, they had travelled 1,124 kilometres in 21 hours and passed through six countries. Helen’s Jeep Compass achieved a fuel consumption figure of 4.25l/100km. John’s Patriot performed even better, achieving 4.18l/100km.
“We already knew the Compass and Patriot were among the most economical sport-utility vehicles, but we were amazed by the fuel efficiency they were capable of during this drive,” said John. “We drove on normal roads at realistic speeds and had to contend with snow and ice and rush-hour traffic.” Helen agreed: “This achievement challenges the myth that all SUVs are gas guzzlers. We’ve proved, in everyday driving conditions, just how fuel-efficient these two Jeep SUVs can be.”
John and Helen Taylor both agree that the most important factor in cutting fuel consumption is the driver. Here are their top 10 tips for driving the fuel efficient way:
- BE A SMOOTH OPERATOR
Fuel efficiency is all about smoothness – using your judgement and keeping calm is crucial. Driving aggressively can use as much as a third more fuel than driving conservatively. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard, and keep the steering action as smooth as possible. - CARE FOR YOUR ENGINE
A vehicle with a properly-tuned engine can have up to four percent better fuel economy. So have your car serviced regularly by an authorised Jeep dealer. - CUT DOWN YOUR WEIGHT
For every extra 45kg carried in a vehicle, the fuel efficiency can drop by two percent. So keep the boot and rear seat clear of any unnecessary items. Also remove the roof rack or roof bars when they are not being used. They adversely affect the vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency and create drag, reducing fuel economy by as much as five percent. - DON’T BE IDLE
Idling gets you nowhere but burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a traffic jam. - DON’T DRIVE IN THE RUSH HOUR
Travel outside peak times and avoid known areas of heavy traffic, so you spend less time stuck in slow-moving traffic. - KEEP RESISTANCE LOW
The faster you travel, the more wind resistance you’ll encounter, so take your time. - KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
Leaving a sensible distance between your car and the vehicle in front gives you more time to anticipate obstacles and brake evenly. Also try to think ahead when driving: speed up a little before reaching the start of a hill and then allow the vehicle’s momentum to carry the vehicle up the hill without working the engine harder. - MOVE UP A GEAR
The higher the gear, the lower the engine speed and the less fuel you’ll use. So select the highest gear possible. A car with an automatic transmission will shift up through gears more gently if you ease off the accelerator when it has gathered momentum. - DON’T LET THE PRESSURE GET TO YOU
A tyre that is under inflated by just 69 millibar (one psi) can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as three percent. - USE AIRCON SENSIBLY
When your car’s air conditioning is on your fuel consumption rises, so try to save the aircon for exceptionally hot days.
GAS BUSTERS
The Taylors completed their epic Jeep fuel tank challenge by driving from the UK to Poland. But where else could they have gone? We start with their dream drive, then pick two alternative destinations:
 | Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA, to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Total distance: 27,000 kilometres. Potential number of tanks of fuel in a Jeep Patriot: 24 “Our dream fuel challenge drive would be to cover the Pan American Highway, a 60-day once-in-a-lifetime adventure,” says John Taylor. |
 | Paris, France to Venice, northern Italy. Total distance: 1,116 kilometres. Potential number of tanks of fuel in a Jeep Patriot: 1 Haute couture tour of Europe. Start in the French capital and stop to shop in Milan and Geneva before reaching Venice, whose piazzas and outdoor cafés will be the perfect place to show off your new outfits. |
 | Monaco Formula One Grand Prix circuit. Total distance: 3.34 kilometres. Potential number of laps made in a Jeep Patriot: 336.5 Live out your motor-racing fantasy by lapping the world’s most glamorous Grand Prix circuit, Monaco’s street track. During the race, the Formula One cars do 78 laps. |