One of the most common questions I am asked about the CARDIS is what mileage1 I get from the Iveco. Before answering that one directly, let’s consider a couple of related matters.
Driving practices
When towing on highways/good roads, I habitually set the cruise control at about an indicated 94-95 km/hr, which translates to about 91 or so km/hr true according to the GPS app I use for checking these things. Where road conditions are not conducive to this speed (e.g. lower limit posted, poor road surface), then I reduce speed accordingly. This latter circumstance has however, been definitely a minority of the time.
When not towing, I normally would cruise at or about the posted limit where reasonable.
Weights
The Iveco tares at 2760 kg, with a GVM of 4495 kg.
Weight in general travel configuration is about 3300 kg.
The CARDIS tares at 3740 kg, with a GVM of 4500 kg.
Weight in general travel configuration is about that (4500 kg) or perhaps a shade over2; although we’re working to bring that back to about 4300 or 4400 kg.
Combined weight in general travel configuration is therefore about 7800 kg, just a little under the legal maximum of 8000 kg.
Mileages
I’ve been recording fuel used since we bought the Iveco, and that currently stands at:
- Total distance: 33900 kms
- Total fuel: 4522 litres
- Overall consumption: 13.34 l/100km3
- Overall average fuel cost: $1.88 /litre
All well and good, but most of that 34-odd thousand kms was not towing, and towing the CARDIS is the scenario of most interest. That one is a little harder to nail down, but from a recent loop around NSW—Granville, Jerilderie, Bourke, Granville—of some 4100 kms or so, with about 2500 of that towing the CARDIS, we’ve seen an overall average of 16.3 l/100km4—see the two images below from the day we finished the loop. Specific checks on a couple of the legs gave just under 18 l/100km5, although I didn’t actually write this down anywhere 🙁 .
