U.S. FTC: rules concerning fuel economy advertising may be updated

[MetroMPG]

Have you ever seen an ad trumpeting "XX MPG" for a vehicle only to realize that's the highway rating they're advertising?

The U.S. FTC is looking at updating advertising rules to “focus on information that helps marketers avoid deceptive or unfair claims.”

The rules were last updated in 1975.

One suggestion under consideration is that both city & hwy numbers should be listed in ads.

They're also looking at requiring ads to avoid "qualitative" fuel economy claims that don't include actual numbers, like "this car gets great MPG!"

They're currently seeking comments/input.

Source: FTC may revise fuel economy advertising guidelines | The Detroit News

[PaleMelanesian]

Absolutely right! I seem to remember it used to be that way, but something changed and lately it's been all highway mpg. Considering how city mileage accounts for approximately half of average driving, it's deceptive to not include it.

Still, it's not been entirely bad. Advertising highway mpg has pushed some makers to put a really tall top gear that we can exploit in our pursuits for MORE. Sadly others haven't jumped on that idea yet (HONDA )

[MetroMPG]

Some of the auto blogs are worse than the car companies: Headlines like "46 MPG Cruze!" (Autoblog Green, I'm looking at you.)

[Frank Lee]

What confusion? The highway numbers have always gotten the emphasis.

[gone-ot]

Q: What's the difference between a WHITE lie and any other lie?

A: The WHITE lie was done for YOUR benefit, any other lie was done for THEIR benefit.

[Frank Lee]

If the highway numbers are easily attainable- as they are now- is that a lie?

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

If the highway numbers are easily attainable- as they are now- is that a lie?

The key words are: " if " and " attainable " ...which in many cases are NOT valid.

[Frank Lee]

Baloney! 1st gen EPA were darned high and virtually unobtainable by non-hypermilers. 2nd gen EPA was easily obtainable by simply driving sensibly. 3rd gen EPA has been dumbed down to reward idiotic driving. Anyone that can't get EPA now ain't doing it right.

[cbaber]

"... avoid deceptive and unfair claims"

Isn't that what marketing is, though?!

This is really a futile effort. EPA estimates are, well, estimates. Listing them at all could be considered deceptive, since the actual results will vary on an individual basis.

This is like banning car makers from advertising peak horsepower, because the majority of drivers will not drive in that RPM range. The Corvette would no longer be advertised at 400+ HP, but a more reasonable 200 HP in the 2k-4k RPM range, where it's more realistic for drivers.

It's fine to advertise peak performance. Anyone with a decently functioning brain can figure out that a car will not get optimal fuel economy in all conditions.

[PaleMelanesian]

Only showing highway mpg can be deceptive because the ratio of highway to city mpg varies between vehicles. It's not telling the whole story.

Example:
Cruze diesel 46 mpg highway, 27 city
Prius C also 46 mpg highway, but 53 city

By advertising only the highway number, Chevrolet makes the Cruze sound as efficient as the Prius, when in reality its combined mpg is only 2/3 as much and city mpg is only half as good as the Prius.