Eco-driving on show at MPG Marathon

A SMART ForTwo CDI city car has won first place in an eco rally by achieving an impressive 96.81 mpg over a 360-mile course across Lincolnshire, the Cotswolds, Shropshire, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Second place went a Toyota Yaris TR Diesel, which achieved 86.18 mpg, a 25 per cent improvement on the manufacturer’s figure.

The MPG Marathon event is not a race, it rewards drivers who can improve on the official fuel efficiency figures of their vehicle.

The best improvement over a manufacturer’s official figures was achieved in a Mazda 3 2.3 MPS – the 41.75mpg returned over the course represented a 43 per cent improvement.

What is eco driving?

The term eco driving, or green driving refers to simple techniques and tips, which will encourage safer, more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly motoring.

Eco driving	… at a glance
Take it smooth	Avoiding harsh acceleration and braking saves fuel and reduces wear and tear – it leaves you feeling more relaxed, too
Anticipate	By looking as far as possible up the road it’s possible to reduce stop/start driving, thereby reducing fuel consumption and making you a safer driver into the bargain
Shed weight	Remove unnecessary clutter from your car and you will use less fuel
Improve your aerodynamics	If you don’t regularly use your roof rack or top box, remove it as it’s reducing the efficiency of your car