A Marton man has been awarded $6000 compensation after his vehicle proved less fuel-efficient than he expected.
Bruce Campbell bought a 2014 Ford Kuga Titanium Ecoboost AWD - or Ford Kuga Titanium - in April last year after being told its fuel economy would be 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres.
But this "innocent misrepresentation" by the dealer, Wanganui Motors, saw the matter end up with the Disputes Tribunal after Mr Campbell could only achieve fuel economy as low as 9.4 litres per 100km.
The tribunal ruled in Mr Campbell's favour, awarding $6000 compensation. The tribunal referee was satisfied this was an "innocent misrepresentation" by Wanganui Motors as they relied on incorrect information given by Ford.
Mr Campbell said the decision to buy the car was based on an understanding its fuel economy would be 7.7 litres per 100km - as per the vehicle window card and what he was told by the dealership's sales manager. The sales manager denied these claims.
Despite multiple visits to the dealer, the best Mr Campbell could achieve was 9.4 litres per 100km.
At one point the vehicle was averaging 12.9 litres per 100km.
When he contacted Wanganui Motors, they said there was a "bedding-in" period and fuel efficiency would improve with more mileage.
Mr Campbell travelled about 11,000km before trading in the car.
He claimed $8250 from Wanganui Motors.
The tribunal ruled: "The evidence of the Ford Motor Company of NZ Ltd that the expected fuel economy of the Ford Kuga Titanium was 9.4 litres per 100km persuades me that, even taking into account the factors that could contribute to fuel economy of a vehicle, that the [dealer's] statement that the fuel economy of the Ford Kuga Titanium was 7.7 litres per 100km was incorrect and a misrepresentation, irrespective of factors that could contribute to a lower fuel economy." The $6000 award was based on the owner's loss of 0.75c per km over 8000km. - NZME.