RV FEATURE

HOW FAR ON A SINGLE TANK ?

Isuzu Ute Australia had loaned us an MU-X . With its 3L turbodiesel engine , smooth six-speed transmission and sophisticated safety features , it ’ s a heck of a car . Coincidentally , I was being called to Canberra . The Caravan Industry Association of Australia was hosting a workshop for people within the RV and holiday park industries , followed by a cocktail party at Parliament House . I could either fly to the nation ’ s capital , or I could climb aboard the MU-X and drive from Melbourne to Canberra . In late October , that ’ s what I did . It was , you see , an excellent opportunity for some more fuel testing .

By the time I filled up in Holbrook , the MU-X had burned through 73.19L of diesel .

Previous tests I ’ d conducted with the MU-X yielded fuel usage returns of about 8.6L / 100km combined city / country driving , against Isuzu ’ s claimed figure of 8.3L / 100km . But those tests were over shorter distances . What figure could we expect when driving unhitched on nothing but open road for hours at a time ? The opportunity to conduct this test fell into my lap – but it was too good to pass up .

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