Scania Super most fuel-efficient in Euro test

The results of the test, down to the first runner-up on the average diesel consumption, was 4.9 per cent, a substantial margin when it comes to comparison tests at this level.

Scania says the Super-based powertrain and the recently updated Cruise Control with Active Prediction system were crucial to the victory.

“This is more proof of Scania’s industry-leading position as the most fuel-efficient brand,” said Julian Modro, Head of Industry Solutions, Scania Trucks. “Tests like this by independent journalists confirm what thousands of customers experience in their daily operations: our Super trucks have a clear edge in fuel consumption over the competition and bring substantial CO2 reductions.”

This year, the ETC comparison test focused on long-haul prime movers with up to 450hp and torque in the range of 2200 to 2400Nm. All the major manufacturers in Europe were invited to participate in the German test, which took place on roads south of Hanover at the end of May.

However, in the end it was three brands who put their trucks on the starting line: Scania, DAF and Mercedes-Benz. Scania chose to enter a 420 R with a sleeper cab. Despite having the least horsepower in the field, the Scania was sporting the highest torque with its 2300Nm.

The average GVM of the truck and trailer combinations in the test was 33.6 tonnes.

“Truck and Trailer Welt run the European Truck Challenge on public roads and use a mix of different road characteristics,” explained Modro. “Their test mimics what truck customers are facing on a daily basis; the only difference is that disturbances like traffic jams are cut out from the final results for the sake of comparability.

“What this level of fuel savings means for hauliers fighting increased fuel costs and rising interest rates is obvious: for a long-haul truck that is driven for 150,000km a year, the fuel cost saving compared with the second best truck is in the 3000 Euro ($A5000) bracket.”

The trophy for the most fuel-efficient truck was awarded to Scania by Truck and Trailer Welt at a ceremony held in conjunction with the big NUFAM commercial vehicle fair in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Dutch truck manufacturer DAF received the Drivers’ Choice award for the XF 450.

“Throughout the European Truck Challenge 2023, one unit in particular consistently impressed the ETC test drivers: the New Generation DAF XF 450,” said Philipp Bönders, editor-in-chief of Truck & Trailer Welt.