AVERAGE fuel consumption achieved by more than 2,000 corporate decision-makers taking part in Mitsubishi's round-Britain corporate ride and drive event for the Carisma fitted with the eco-friendly GDI engine was 53.2mpg. Following last month's Budget fuel price increases and the Government's tax focus on environmentally-friendly cars Mitsubishi believes the 1.8-litre direct injection petrol engined car - which cuts C02 emissions by 20% compared with conventional petrol engines - is a winner.

The ride and drive event was staged over 15 days and finished in Northern Ireland where the highest fuel consumption figure of the series was recorded - 61.8mpg. Meanwhile, the latest wholelife cost figures from consultant EMMOX put the Carisma GDI direct injection petrol models ahead of the competition.

The Carisma 1.8 GLX 5-door with the GDI power unit is placed at 24.17 pence per mile - more than two pence per mile (or £1,644 over three years/60,000 miles) less than its nearest rival in the medium sector, the Toyota Avensis 1.8 CS 5-door at 26.91ppm. Although more expensive to run than the Carisma turbodiesel model, at 23.48ppm, EMMOX puts it ahead of the Ford Mondeo 1.8 TD LX (26.17ppm) and the Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 TDi LS (27.22ppm).