Toyota Corolla travels 1,017 km on single tank

Updated Mon. Jul. 28 2008 7:44 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Drivers feeling the pinch of high gas prices may want to consider the Toyota Corolla. The compact sedan travelled an astonishing 1,017 kilometres on a single 50-litre gas tank during a challenge pitting it against a dozen other similar vehicles.

Online magazine CanadianDriver and TV’s Motoring 2008 test-drove 13 compact sedans and hatchbacks (all in the $20,000 price range) to find out which one would go the farthest with 50-litres in the gas tank. Motoring 2008 producer Brad Diamond says organizers of the “50-litre challenge” were surprised just how far some of the cars were able to go.

“The Toyota Corolla went the longest. We were driving for over 19 hours,” Diamond told CTV’s Canada AM on Monday.

Diamond said drivers were surprised how far the car travelled — even after the gas light lit up.

“When the reserve light comes on, normally (drivers) panic,” he said.

“After the light went on, the Corolla went for 188 kilometres … they were just (driving) on fumes. It blew all of us away.”

Diamond noted, however, he recommends that drivers fuel up their cars “immediately” after the gas light goes on.

Here is the list of how far each car travelled on a 50-litre tank of gas:

* Toyota Corolla: 1017 km
* Honda Civic: 947 km
* Pontiac Vibe: 854 km
* Hyundai Elantra: 812 km
* Mazda3: 784 km
* Pontiac G5: 755 km
* Mitsubishi Lancer: 754 km
* Ford Focus: 742 km
* Kia Spectra: 742 km
* Nissan Sentra: 717 km
* Volkswagen City Golf: 670 km
* Dodge Caliber: 653 km
* Suzuki SX4: 637 km

Diamond said the 50-km challenge was conducted on a looped course that took drivers through roads in Ontario and Quebec.

Most of the driving was conducted on highways at speeds about 10 kilometres above the speed limit. That way the caravan of test cars was able to go with the flow of traffic. Drivers also avoided fast stops and other practices that that would cut down on fuel efficiency.

Diamond said challenge organizers tried to emulate real-world driving conditions.

“We went through Algonquin Provincial Park, we passed each other, we changed drivers every 100 kilometres for a weight point of view,” Diamond said, adding that drivers even braked for chipmunks on the road.

He noted that the road test proves consumers can get “sexy, small” cars that are affordable and fuel efficient.

“Not only that they’re good looking cars. They’re not econo-boxes anymore … they were comfortable,” he said.
Comments are now closed for this story

Don
I’m not sure I believe some of this data and I’d like to know who funded it. I drove from Mississauga to Ottawa this past weekend, didn’t get stuck in “stop and go” traffic and went the speed limit and my 2007 Ford Focus hatchback with very little luggage barely went 500 KMS on a full tank so I doubt it could have gone nearly another 300 KMs on “fumes”. Not sure this is true…

Brian from Barrie
Now lets try the Hummer, Jeep, Escalade, and some other large vehicles to see how bad it can be.
Of course this test was done at speed limits, not the 120km/h that most drivers on the 401 and 400 drive. Also, where was the passenger weight or luggage.
Still 1017 km on 50L is pretty good, maybe people should start looking at them. This way less gas used, less need of oil, lower oil prices, then lower gas prices. Well it all makes so much sense, 4 of the top 5 are non USA cars, do they know something we dont? That was sarcasim by the way.