Vauxhall’s MPG Marathon virgin turns fuel-miser in Movano

Vauxhall’s all-new Movano, driven by 100,000 mile-a-year van courier and MPG Marathon first timer Wayne Buswell, has achieved a solid 40 per cent MPG saving over the official combined figure in the Fleet World MPG Marathon this week.

Wayne, who’s employed by Leicester company Rida Despatch, defied the white van man stereotype by practicing economy driving techniques to achieve a 13.91mpg improvement on the published fuel consumption figure, allowing him to finish third on percentage improvement in the commercial vehicle category.

Driving a Vauxhall Movano 2.3 CDTi L3 H2 (125PS), Wayne completed the two day, 380-mile route starting in Stratford-upon-Avon and taking in Herefordshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, covering a challenging combination of fast A-roads, twisty B-routes and busy motorways.

On completion of his first ever MPG Marathon, Wayne said:  “In shunning the white van man stereotype, I have showed that by driving with skill and anticipation it's possible to get a great deal more from a gallon of fuel.”

Nigel Thirkill, Director of Rida Despatch, said: “With fuel prices at today's levels, there can't be many businesses out there who would turn down the opportunity to cut their fuel bills by 40 per cent.  Based on Wayne’s annual mileage and the improvement he’s achieved in the Movano we would expect to see savings of just under £4,500.”

Introduced earlier this year, the second incarnation of the Vauxhall Movano brings a breath of fresh air to the light commercial vehicle market in the UK, combining innovative technologies with strong functionality and economy.