What is gas mileage (MPG)?
Gas mileage, measured in miles per gallon (MPG), tells you how far your vehicle can travel on one gallon of fuel. A higher MPG means better fuel efficiency and lower running costs. The EPA tests vehicles under standardized conditions to publish city, highway, and combined MPG ratings. See also our Gas Calculator.
How do I calculate MPG?
To calculate MPG, divide the number of miles driven by the number of gallons of fuel used. For example, if you drove 300 miles and used 10 gallons, your MPG is 300 ÷ 10 = 30 MPG. For metric users, divide distance in km by liters used, then multiply by 0.4251 to convert to MPG.
What is considered good gas mileage?
A fuel economy above 30 MPG is generally considered good for a gasoline-powered vehicle. Compact and hybrid cars often achieve 35–50+ MPG, while trucks and SUVs typically fall in the 15–25 MPG range. The best benchmark depends on your vehicle class — compare your MPG to similar vehicles.
What factors affect MPG?
Several factors influence fuel economy: driving speed (highway driving at 55–65 mph is most efficient), tire pressure, vehicle weight, air conditioning use, engine condition, and driving style (aggressive acceleration and braking hurt MPG). Cold weather, roof racks, and carrying extra cargo also reduce efficiency.
How does a car calculate average MPG?
Modern vehicles use an onboard computer that tracks fuel injector pulse width (fuel flow) and wheel speed sensors to estimate real-time and average MPG. The displayed figure is an approximation — for the most accurate reading, use a full tank-to-full tank method and divide miles driven by gallons added.
How many gallons does a typical car's tank hold?
Most passenger cars have fuel tanks ranging from 12 to 16 gallons, while trucks and SUVs can hold 20 to 36 gallons. A midsize sedan with a 14-gallon tank and 32 MPG rating would have a range of roughly 448 miles on a full tank.
How do I convert MPG to liters per 100km (L/100km)?
To convert MPG to L/100km, use the formula: L/100km = 235.21 ÷ MPG. For example, 30 MPG converts to 235.21 ÷ 30 ≈ 7.84 L/100km. This calculator displays your fuel economy in MPG, km/L, and L/100km automatically, so no manual conversion is needed.