Quote:
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Fuel economy is measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory using a standardized test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.
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That would explain it. In past years, in every car I've even bought new (which were all Toyotas and Mitsubishis) the EPA figures were right on the money. The Chevy Aveo however is accurate for the highway figure, but not for the city figure which is inflated. Of course now that GM is Government Motors there might be an incentive in fudging the stats a bit...
"Your mileage may vary". That's always the escape clause. But it's too late after you've bought the car and you can't determine whether the EPA figure is accurate beforehand.