Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Our Fleet Test Drive Review: BMW 520d Touring - 6th report
BusinessCar magazine website email Awards mobile

The start point for the best source of fleet information

Our Fleet Test Drive Review: BMW 520d Touring - 6th report

Date: 21 January 2010   |   Author: Tristan Young

fuel economy
Category: Executive
P11D price: £34,790
Key rival: Audi A6

Now we've a few miles under the tyres of our BMW 520d Touring we're in a far better position to report on its fuel economy.

The official fuel figure is an impressive 48.7mpg. Our average, however, at 39.2mpg, isn't quite that good. But then, the car keeps being 'borrowed' by other members of staff needing a big car to transport families or belongings around the country or, worse in terms of fuel economy, in town. And this type of stop-start city driving is what has seen the lowest recorded consumption for a single tank of diesel of 35.0mpg.

It's playing havoc with my eco driving efforts. For example, after one ultra-eco run, the trip was reading the official 48.7mpg (see

the photographic evidence), but then the car was borrowed again, and when it was returned economy had fallen to 43.3mpg.

I've recently taken part in a BMW-sponsored Smarter Driving course run the Energy Saving Trust, which helps drivers improve their eco-driving techniques, so we'll see if the 10% lift I achieved on the course can be translated to my long-term test car's figures.

FOLLOW BUSINESSCAR ON TWITTER



Share


Subscribe