When we last heard from Helen and John Taylor, they'd just finished a drive through all 48 contiguous states in a Chevy Cruze Eco, achieving 64.42 mpg in the process. Now, the couple from Melbourne, Australia has set a new record: 1,626 miles on a single tank of fuel.
This time that fuel was diesel, and the car was a stock 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE with a six-speed manual transmission. Though it's window sticker promises 43 mpg highway, the Taylors managed to squeak out 84.1 mpg using the hypermiling techniques that they've developed. The new record is a 99.5 mile improvement over the old one, set in Europe with a previous-generation diesel Passat.
On their three day journey, the couple drove across nine states and travelled from Houston, Texas to Sterling, Virginia. To make sure nobody pulled a Rosie Ruiz, police officers in Texas and Virginia witnessed the sealing and unsealing of the fuel filler door.
What's most remarkable about the mileage that the Taylors achieved is that they made sure to replicate real-world conditions. In addition to themselves, they had 120 pounds of luggage on board and shared driving duties in everyday traffic situations. To ensure that their trip mirrored the average commutes of Americans, the Taylors drove 14 hours a day mostly during daylight hours.
"We’re excited to have broken the record for the longest distance driven on one-tank of fuel," said John Taylor. "The Passat TDI was the perfect car for the trip. It offers plenty of interior and cargo space, yet is frugal enough to help us achieve this record."
In addition to setting 89 fuel economy records, the Taylors teach hypermiling techniques and lobby governments to add fuel economy to drivers education curricula. Among their tips: travel downhill in the highest gear possible and don't exceed speed limits.
Photo: Volkswagen
