The following is an article received from the Australian Automobile Association on real world testing of hybrid vehicles with detailed analysis.


Australia’s peak motoring body says analysis of testing in real-world conditions shows not all hybrids deliver expected fuel savings, and Australian families and businesses should not expect all hybrid vehicles to perform the same.

Buyers of hybrids generally pay significantly more for these vehicles as they expect to make savings throughout the life of the vehicle due to the relatively better fuel efficiency.

Sales of hybrid vehicles grew 165% from the first quarter of 2023 to the last quarter of 2024, and they now account for almost a sixth of Australia’s new light vehicle sales.

AAA’s Real-World Testing Program – undertaken on Australian roads in real driving conditions – has tested both the hybrid and internal combustion engine (ICE) variants of eight popular vehicle models.

It has found different hybrid vehicles provide very different rates of return.

The AAA has tested six conventional (full) hybrids and two mild hybrid vehicles (see third page of this release for definitions).

Four Toyota hybrid variants tested (RAV4, Corolla, Camry and Kluger) achieved the highest total fuel consumption reductions, when compared to their petrol variants.
In urban driving conditions, the hybrid Camry used 50.2% less fuel than its petrol variant, with the Corolla (49.4% less) and the Kluger (44.4% less) also performing very well.

The Honda CR-V and Suzuki Swift hybrids recorded fuel consumption savings of 24% and 18% respectively over their ICE variants.

The GWM Jolion delivered only a 17% total trip fuel consumption saving over its ICE variant, which is less than half the 38% reduction observed in the respective vehicles’ laboratory tests. The Jolion hybrid costs about $7,000 more than its ICE equivalent.

And the Subaru Forester hybrid’s total trip fuel consumption was higher (up 2.8%) than that of its less-expensive ICE variant. The Forester Hybrid costs about $3,000 more than its ICE equivalent. (However, Subaru has discontinued the mild hybrid and is now taking orders for a new model full hybrid Forester).

AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said: “Our Program continues to show that lab test results on the windscreens of new cars can differ significantly from real-world performance, and cost-focused consumers should do their research before spending their money.

“New cars rarely achieve real-world consumption equal to lab results, and Australian families and fleet buyers can now see how cars perform on Australian roads, and what their respective running costs will be. The Real-World Testing Program tests cars on a 93km public road circuit in and around Geelong, Victoria that has urban, rural and highway segments.

It compares real-world fuel consumption and emissions results with those obtained in mandatory lab tests. The four-year program will test up to 200 cars, SUVs, and utes, including electric vehicles. EV testing protocols are now being developed.





Notes to the tables:
Table 1 is a reduction in fuel consumption (l/100 km) from a variant with an ICE powertrain to a HEV variant of each model as measured in RWT Program testing.
Table 2 is the reduction in fuel consumption (l/100 km) from a variant with an ICE powertrain to a HEV variant of each model from GVG (mandatory laboratory test) data.
Δ% - percentage decrease of fuel consumption from ICE to HEV.

Table 2 – Green Vehicle Guide (GVG) – derived from mandatory laboratory test results:
Reduction in fuel consumption (l/100 km) from ICE to HEV (same model)1





The hybrid vehicle market

The AAA’s Electric Vehicle Index shows that in the last quarter of 2024, conventional hybrid vehicles accounted for 14.83 per cent of Australian new car sales – up from 6.26 per cent in the first quarter of 2023.

Conventional (full) hybrid electric vehicles have both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor powered by a battery that cannot be plugged into a charging station, but instead recharges using the kinetic energy from braking. They can use their internal combustion engine or electric motor together or separately. These vehicles tend to drive in electric-only mode at low speeds, most notably in stop/start traffic.
Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV) are fitted with a small battery and small electric motor to assist the internal combustion engine (ICE) in short bursts to improve fuel consumption. These vehicles do not typically drive in electric-only mode.
Plug-in hybrids are powered primarily by an electric motor with a rechargeable battery. Their internal combustion engine is used as back-up if the electric motor’s battery depletes.
For footage and photographs of testing, see this link.