Ford falls short of economy claims I bought a new Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost, lured by promises of 55mpg. I can't get more than 43mpg, however - and that's on a run in sixth gear. I have passed the IAM test and know how to drive economically. How can a manufacturer get away with this? We've covered this many times. Ford did not promise you anything - it published unrealistic EC test cycle figures, as all manufacturers are compelled to do. The advantage is that these result in cars having lower annual CO2 tax than they should. In this instance, I'd say 43mpg is about right. For reliable, real-world fuel economy feedback, visit honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg.