KEY POINTS:
The Commerce Commission has issued a warning to carmaker Hyundai over "misleading" advertisements.
Billboard and television advertisements for the Hyundai i30 hybrid claimed the vehicle was more fuel efficient and emitted less carbon than another popular hybrid vehicle.
Both advertisements referred to results of the 2007 World Solar Challenge in which seven different hybrid vehicles were tested.
The Hyundai and Audi A3 Sportback 1.9e were driven conservatively by motoring professionals and returned similar results.
The other five cars in the same class, including a Toyota Prius, were driven using an everyday driving style.
"The final results issued by the challenge organisers noted that technologies and driving styles of vehicles varied considerably, hence it was not possible to directly compare fuel efficiencies and greenhouse gas emissions between vehicles in that class," the report said.
It was also noted that some competitors were trying to achieve the lowest possible emissions while others were trying to show what could be achieved by an average driver.
"Many consumers are looking to purchase fuel efficient vehicles both to save on fuel costs and to reduce their impact on the environment.
"It is important that businesses supply consumers with accurate information so that they can make informed decisions about the type of vehicle that they purchase," director of fair trading Adrian Sparrow said.
Comparisons could help consumers choose products that best suited their needs and budgets but companies must "tell the full story" and not leave out information necessary for a true and fair comparison, he said.
"The commission believes that as no qualification about the differences in the technology and driving styles was included, the advertising was at risk of breaching the Fair Trading Act," Mr Sparrow said.
The commission considered a warning appropriate as the advertisements were stopped as soon as the issue was identified.
- NZPA
