The recent Department of Energy Fuel Eco Run was a test of just how thrifty today’s crop of automobiles are. Now on its 13th year, the event fields all the current offerings in the local market, subjecting them to tests that show just how fuel efficient they are.
With some 27 gasoline-powered models on the table, this year’s Fuel Eco Run saw the all-new Kia Picanto 1.2L GT-Line garnering top honors. The most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered car of the lot returned an impressive 29.23km/L. Fitted with a Kappa 1.2-liter mill and automatic transmission, the little Kia bested the other contenders, even outperforming its Kia Rio stablemate, which netted 19.03km/L.
This year’s event, which began at the Petron station in Clark, Pampanga, passed through the SCTEX and TPLEX, all the way to Binalonan. Here, participants turned around and headed back to Clark. The route ran a total of 216kms.
While each car that joined the event was fielded by the manufacturers themselves, certain variables were maintained to ensure fair play. Each vehicle had a driver and co-driver, both of which were chosen by the manufacturer. Independent observers from the media were on hand in each vehicle to keep track of how things went. And a steady speed of 80kph on the highway was maintained.
The Kia Picanto 1.2L GT-Line is available at your friendly Kia dealer.
