A Volkswagen Transporter won its commercial vehicle class in the ALD Automotive TOTAL Excellium MPG Marathon 2008 by achieving 52.48mpg after a challenging competition under real-world conditions.
As the only medium or large van to achieve more than 50mpg during the event, the Transporter T28 SWB also used less fuel and had the lowest cost per mile than its rivals, thanks to its economical combination of performance and flexibility from the 1.9-liter TDI PD engine delivering 102hp with 185 lb-ft of torque at 2500rpm.
The official results also show that the Transporter traveled almost three miles further per gallon over the 412 mile route than its direct rival in the competition from Mercedes, and was also competitive against smaller vans.
The real-world conditions for the MPG marathon included a variety of roads plus freeway driving over a fixed route from Bristol to Macclesfield in England and back via Wales and the Peak District, with the Transporter carrying 50% of its payload.