Do New Cars Consume More Fuel?

[DiCaroline]

New cars tend to have relatively higher fuel consumption. Below are the reasons why new cars consume more fuel: Reasons: During the break-in period, the large mechanical components in the car experience greater friction between parts, which requires more power to overcome. Bad Habits: Improper control of brake and accelerator pedals, sudden acceleration and braking while driving, maintaining one gear for too long or driving at low speeds for extended periods. All vehicles bear a heavier actual load at low speeds compared to medium speeds. Objective Factors: Frequent starting and braking in traffic jams increases fuel consumption; at high speeds, opening the sunroof or side windows significantly increases wind resistance. Greater resistance requires more power, which directly correlates with higher fuel consumption.

[Jess]

The few new cars I've driven did consume slightly more fuel in the first two months. When fresh off the production line, the engine's internal components need breaking-in. The piston rings and cylinder walls have tighter clearances, resulting in higher frictional resistance. Brake pads and tires also have a run-in period, and the uneven surface of brake rotors creates additional load. During the break-in phase, the transmission's shift logic hasn't fully adapted to my driving habits yet, and frequent gear changes consume more fuel. However, after normal driving for about 1,000 kilometers, the fuel consumption generally stabilizes to the manufacturer's claimed level. When refueling last week, I noticed this is quite common - my friend's newly purchased SUV burned about 2 liters more per fill-up during its first three refuels compared to now. Regularly checking tire pressure, avoiding sudden acceleration, and taking highway trips can all help shorten the break-in period. Slightly higher fuel consumption in new cars is normal - nothing to worry about too much.

[StCassidy]

As a user who frequently comes into contact with new cars, I've noticed that the break-in period does have an impact on fuel consumption. When a car first leaves the factory, the coordination between components is not yet optimal. In particular, the piston rings and cylinder walls require about 500 kilometers to fully seat. The higher viscosity of new engine oil increases resistance, and the deeper tread patterns of new tires also contribute to greater rolling friction. Additionally, I've observed that the fuel injection system in new cars is slightly less precise initially, preventing combustion efficiency from reaching its full potential. However, these effects become minimal after the third maintenance service. It's advisable to avoid prolonged low-speed driving before the first maintenance and to maintain steady-speed driving. Nowadays, many cars undergo cold break-in before leaving the factory, so the difference in fuel consumption is becoming increasingly negligible.

[DeCooper]

During my recent test drive of the new model, I paid special attention to fuel consumption performance. In fact, new cars aren't necessarily more fuel-intensive - it largely depends on the comparison benchmark. Compared to a broken-in identical model, initial fuel consumption is indeed slightly higher, but the difference usually doesn't exceed 5%. The key factor is that the engine control system requires a learning process: the vehicle's computer needs to collect 200-300 kilometers of driving data to optimize fuel injection strategy. The transmission shift logic also isn't initially as intelligent. The real fuel guzzlers are actually vehicles equipped with larger engines or turbochargers. From my experience, maintaining steady driving at around 2000 RPM and avoiding aggressive starts will normalize fuel consumption within half a month.