Guys,

you make valid points.

What I would say is that a system which can only put out 5.8 degrees at a 32 degree ambient is going to struggle on the hottest of days. And that was my experience last year where with a 47.5 degree ambient, the system could only produce 10 degrees at the vent, and even after 3 hours of solid 80 km/h driving could only maintain a cabin temp of 29 degrees. I even had to take the car through a car wash to reduce the heat soak to achieve that temp. That same day, the Liberty within 30 minutes was cranking out 1.8 degree air, and held a cabin temp of 18 degrees. The air cond performance in the most adverse of conditions is chalk and cheese.

Personally I would prefer to pay a penalty of 0.5 l/per 100km to have a system which will actually hold the temperature dialled up on those 3 really hot days per year.

98% of time the system is adequate, and the heater is fabulous, producing 82 degrees at the vent within 15 minutes.

But ask anyone who works in the air cond industry ( automotive and industrial), 95% of complaints happen on those 3 hot days of the year, and any deficiency in a system will be revealed.

Just my experience, opinion and 2 cents worth !