the [European] NEDC tests are "very sedate and short. There is no resemblance to real-world driving".
The gentle acceleration, cruising speed, and braking used in the tests would be unrecognisable to most drivers, she says.
There is no simulation of prolonged motorway driving, and carmakers use the most optimal settings to improve performance, such as the bare minimum of fuel and switching off air conditioning.
She says carmakers might remove windscreen wipers, wing mirrors, and spare wheels, and even tape up doors to reduce drag.
"I don't think manufacturers (in the EU) break the rules, but they do bend them," she says. "Everyone is gaming the tests in Europe."
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34340301