The Full Tank Challenge | Euro Car Parts

Ever wondered how far you can really get on one full tank of fuel? Starting at John O’Groats, we challenged three drivers in the three best-selling cars of 2018 to find out! See how far they got in the videos below.

Watch the video

Three cars, three full tanks, three different routes. Who drove the furthest and managed the most miles per gallon?

Explore the routes

Vauxhall Corsa
Ford Fiesta
Ford Focus

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa2016
Engine1.4T
Tank45l

Starting at John O’Groats, watch Dave in the Vauxhall Corsa as he navigates his way through beautiful scenery, takes the directions back to basics with a good old paper map, and maybe even encounters a few roaming free (and apparently randy) highland cattle on his way.

Time (hrs) 14h 47min

Av. speed (mph) 31.7

Distance (m) 468

MPG 47.3

Our verdict

Despite taking the slower B road route with tougher terrain, we were still impressed by how far this motor got. The Corsa had the largest engine of all three cars, and a medium-sized tank in comparison, but still racked up a similar mileage.

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta2018
Engine1.0
Tank42l

Check out how Maddie found the Ford Fiesta on her journey from John O’Groats. Featuring some stiff competition, a mammoth amount of coffee and some pretty sights between the inevitable grey of the motorway, see how the little Fiesta fares in the Full Tank Challenge.

Time (hrs) 11h 45min

Av. speed (mph) 40.5

Distance (m) 476

MPG 51.5

Our verdict

Despite having the smallest tank of the three cars tested, the Fiesta still packed an almighty punch. This car took a motorway-based route, which no doubt helped, but we were still left with a great impression of this little 1-litre’s fuel economy.

Ford focus

Ford Focus2018
Engine1.0
Tank55l

See how Laura fared in the Ford Focus in our Full Tank Challenge. With just one full tank for the car, and a heck of a lot of sweets for Laura, watch the stakes get higher alongside some fantastic seaside views, and the odd field of kale!

Time (hrs) 12h 2min

Av. speed (mph) 41.1

Distance (m) 502

MPG 41.5

Our verdict

While travelling on preferable A roads, it was the Ford Focus that got the furthest. But as this car had by far the largest tank size of the three we tested, and a small engine, we were expecting it to go even further!

Running out of fuel

What really happens when you run out of fuel?

In short: bad things. Running out of fuel is bad news for your engine, whether you drive a petrol or diesel car.

Even before you get to the point of having zero fuel in your tank, damage can start to happen. The fuel at the very bottom of the tank could have sediment in it - something that usually occurs in older cars - which can damage the fuel lines, block the fuel filter and even damage the engine itself.

At the point of having zero fuel in your tank, your fuel pump will start to draw in air. This can result in the pump getting too hot, overheating, and eventually wearing out. And it gets worse for diesel engines too!

Efficient driving TIPS

1A
Keep it smooth

Driving as smoothly as you can – that means avoiding breaking suddenly or accelerating suddenly – can boost your efficiency. This means leaving plenty of time and space for breaking, thinking ahead, and acting in plenty of time.
2A
Watch your speed

This might seem like an obvious one, but slowing down a little can actually make a big difference to your fuel economy, even if you only reduce your speed by 10mph.
3A
Don’t use what you don’t need

Gadgets, heating, chargers and more – our dashboards seem to have all the latest tech attachments these days. Leaving things on that you’re not using can in turn use more fuel, so switch off the bits you don’t need.
4A
Check your tyres

Make sure they’re inflated to the correct level. If they’re under-inflated, your fuel consumption can go up, so make sure you run regular checks to keep them in good working order.
5A
Lighten the load

When they’re not in use, take any excess accessories off your car. Items such as roof racks, bike racks and items in your boot can weigh you down, while external accessories can create drag.
6A
Don’t coast

Coasting used to be a technique used by drivers to save fuel, but it doesn’t really make a difference. As well as this, it can be dangerous - coasting reduces the control you have over the car and can overheat your brakes.