Ameer Randolph
Fuel efficiency is a measure of how much energy is used by a vehicle per mile. In the UK, this is usually quoted in miles per gallon (mpg) – the number of miles a car can travel on a single gallon of fuel. This is a useful metric for comparing the fuel economy of different cars, and it can be used to calculate the cost of running a car. There are various online tools and calculators that can be used to find the mpg of a car, and it can also be calculated manually.
How fuel-efficient is my car in the UK?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Miles per gallon (MPG) | Depends on the car model, year, and other factors |
| MPG calculation | Miles covered/ gallons of fuel used |
| Factors affecting MPG | Traffic, weather conditions, driving style, car occupancy, and congestion |
| Fuel cost per mile | Can be calculated based on fuel price and MPG |
| Running costs | Depreciation per mile, service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs per mile, fuel cost per mile, and residual value |
| Fuel economy data sources | What Car?, Honest John, Parkers, Fuel-Economy.co.uk, and Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) |
| Fuel economy calculation tools | MPG calculators, Real MPG tests, and fuel economy lookup by registration number |
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What You'll Learn
Calculating miles per gallon (MPG)
Calculating your car's miles per gallon (MPG) can help you make significant savings on fuel costs and can also serve as a reasonably accurate indicator of your car's overall state of health or repair.
There are several ways to calculate your car's MPG. One way is to use a fuel efficiency calculator, which estimates gas mileage based on the number of kilometres covered and the average fuel consumption of your car. This method can be particularly useful when planning a car trip, as it can help you estimate how much fuel you will need and how much the trip will cost.
Another way to calculate your MPG is to manually divide the distance travelled in miles by the amount of fuel used in gallons. To do this, you can reset your trip computer or mileage counter when you fill up your tank, ensuring it is full. When you fill up your tank again, note the mileage covered and the amount of fuel used. Then, divide the distance travelled by the amount of fuel used to obtain your car's MPG for that trip.
It is important to note that most fuel stations sell fuel in litres, so you may need to convert litres to gallons when performing the calculation. Additionally, modern cars may have an engine management system that can automatically display the average MPG for you.
You can also improve your fuel efficiency by making some changes to your driving style and vehicle maintenance. For example, steady acceleration and braking can improve gas mileage, and keeping your vehicle in good shape, such as using the recommended motor oil and ensuring proper tyre inflation, can also make a difference.
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Real-world MPG tests
One example of a real-world MPG test is the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which replaced the outdated New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) regulations in 2018. The WLTP test is designed to better reflect real-world driving conditions by simulating a wider variety of driving conditions over a longer period of time. It includes a motorway element to truly assess fuel consumption at high speeds, as well as a range of other factors such as weather conditions, air conditioning usage, and different road types. The WLTP test is also supported by a real-world driving element called the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test, which measures Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions.
Another example of a real-world MPG test is the one conducted by Which?, which includes a lab test on a rolling road and a road test. The lab test simulates wind resistance and enables the test to be repeated in the same way and environment, while the road test includes a motorway driving cycle where they accelerate up to and sustain motorway speeds.
Honest John also conducts real-world MPG tests, but their data comes from drivers and car owners rather than laboratory tests. They collate MPG figures for every make, model, and engine, and compare them to the official WLTP or NEDC figures to show how close the car comes to its claimed MPG figure.
In addition, What Car? has its own Real MPG test, which is based on real-world driving data across a selection of different roads. They inspect and weigh each car, and then use that weight to calculate loads for replicating the resistive forces acting on the vehicle when it's on their rolling road. They also check tyre pressures and fit an exhaust connection to measure emissions. Their results are summarised by different phases of driving (town, motorway, and rural) and fuel economy figures are calculated based on the overall emissions results.
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Fuel-saving tips
The speed you drive at is the most influential factor affecting fuel consumption. Accelerating gently and maintaining a steady speed will improve your miles per gallon (MPG). Driving in the highest possible gear for your vehicle while keeping within the speed limit is the best way to achieve high MPG.
However, the optimum fuel economy speed will be different for every car. Generally, cars are most efficient at 45-50mph. Driving on motorways gives the best chance of staying at a smooth constant speed in your highest gear, avoiding harsh braking and hard revving.
Other ways to improve fuel efficiency include:
- Regular maintenance and servicing of your vehicle.
- Keeping your tyres inflated to the correct pressure.
- Removing unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight.
- Using the correct engine oil for your car.
- Using the air conditioning sparingly.
- Using cruise control only on flat roads.
- Avoiding premium fuels unless you have a high-performance car.
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Running costs
To manually calculate your car's MPG, you can follow these steps: fill your fuel tank to the brim, record the mileage, and reset the trip computer. After driving for a while, refill your tank and note the amount of fuel required. Convert the litres of fuel into gallons (1 litre = 0.219 gallons), then calculate the distance covered by subtracting the starting mileage from the current mileage. Finally, divide the miles travelled by the gallons of fuel used, and you'll have your MPG figure.
It's important to note that MPG figures can vary depending on driving conditions and style. Factors such as traffic congestion, weather conditions, car occupancy, and driving behaviour can influence fuel economy. Aggressive driving, hard acceleration, and high engine revs tend to decrease fuel efficiency, while maintaining a steady speed and changing to a higher gear earlier can improve it.
In addition to fuel costs, other factors contribute to the overall running costs of a car. Depreciation, service and maintenance, repairs, and road tax (VED) costs, as well as insurance costs, should be considered when assessing the financial implications of owning and operating a vehicle. These costs can vary depending on the make and model of your car, so it's essential to research and understand the specific expenses associated with your vehicle.
By understanding the MPG of your car and the various factors that impact running costs, you can make informed decisions to optimise fuel efficiency and minimise overall expenses. Online tools and manual calculations can help you track and improve your car's fuel economy, ultimately saving you money and reducing your environmental impact.
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Real-world fuel costs
The most common way to measure a car's fuel efficiency is by its miles per gallon (mpg). This is a simple measure of a car's fuel economy, or how far a car will travel on a gallon of fuel. For example, if your car does 35mpg, it can cover 35 miles on a gallon of fuel.
There are various online tools that can help you calculate your car's mpg, such as What Car?'s Real MPG calculator, which shows what fuel economy you can realistically expect from a car. The Real MPG calculator gives genuine, real-world data from real drivers and allows owners and buyers to see how much on-the-road fuel a vehicle uses.
To calculate your car's mpg yourself, you can follow these steps:
- Fill your car's fuel tank to the brim and note your car's mileage or reset the trip computer.
- The next time you visit a fuel station, fill your car to the brim and note how much fuel it took.
- Convert the number of litres you bought into imperial gallons by multiplying it by 0.219 (or dividing by 4.546, according to another source).
- Calculate the distance covered by subtracting the starting mileage from your current mileage.
- Divide the number of miles you've covered by the number of gallons of fuel you've put in.
It's important to note that fuel efficiency and costs can vary depending on various factors, such as traffic and weather conditions, car occupancy, and driving style. For example, an engine burns less fuel at low revs, so changing to a higher gear earlier and avoiding hard acceleration can improve fuel economy. Additionally, simple actions like closing your car windows and clearing out the boot to reduce weight can also help enhance fuel efficiency.
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Frequently asked questions
You can calculate your car's fuel efficiency or MPG (miles per gallon) by filling your car's tank to the brim, noting the mileage and filling it up again when it's low on fuel. Then, calculate the distance covered by subtracting the starting mileage from the current mileage and divide the number of miles covered by the number of gallons of fuel put in.
You can find the fuel efficiency of a car by using online tools that provide fuel consumption data. You can also find the MPG of a car by selecting the make and model of the car.
Anything over 50mpg is impressive. The most efficient cars on sale today average almost 60mpg.
Simple steps such as closing your car's windows and clearing out the boot to reduce weight can help improve fuel efficiency. An engine burns less fuel at low revs, so changing up to a higher gear earlier and avoiding hard acceleration will also help.
To calculate the cost of fuel per mile, you need to know the cost of fuel per litre and the number of litres your car can hold. Then, you can calculate the cost of fuel per mile by dividing the cost of fuel per litre by the number of litres your car can hold.
