Micra is most efficient gas vehicle in this year's Eco-Run competition (AJAC)

[MetroMPG]

A base Micra 5-speed just took top honours among conventional gasoline vehicles in the 2015 Vancouver Island Eco-Run, held by AJAC (Auto Journalist Association of Canada).

The EcoRun is an annual AJAC event that shows off a variety of eco-friendly vehicles, which include pure electrics, plug-in and conventional hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, diesel-fuelled powertrains and highly-efficient gasoline options. The purpose of the EcoRun is to help inform consumers of these alternative options, as well as providing accurate road testing fuel economy numbers. There's no limit to the size of vehicle showcased, as they range from subcompacts to pickup trucks. These new vehicles are driven on real-world road conditions in order to fully test for fuel efficiency and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Route: this west coast route covered ~200 km and went from Vancouver up to the ferry at Horseshoe Bay, across to Nanaimo, down to Victoria. Day 2 went up to Swartz Bay, onto the ferry across to Tswwassen and back to Vancouver.

Micra's results: 5.54 L/100 km = 51 mpg (Imp) = 18.1 km/L = 43 mpg (US)

The only cars to beat it were a diesel Golf and a few plug-ins. (A Nissan Leaf took the overall top spot.)

Surprisingly, a Mazda 3 with a 2.5L engine came close behind the Micra, at 5.75 L/100 km.

More info: http://www.ajac.ca/eco-run/