Rajan Wilcox
It is important to know your car's true fuel consumption to save money on fuel and insurance. MPG (miles per gallon) is a way of measuring a car's fuel economy, telling you how many miles your car will cover per gallon of fuel. While manufacturers provide MPG figures, these are often lower than the actual consumption and do not account for variations in weather, car occupancy, and traffic congestion, all of which impact fuel economy. To calculate your car's true fuel consumption, you can use online tools and apps or perform simple calculations. By tracking your car's fuel economy, you can identify ways to improve it and save money.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is MPG? | Miles per gallon, a way of measuring a car's fuel economy or consumption. |
| How is it calculated? | Divide the number of miles covered by the gallons of fuel used. |
| How to calculate for your own car | Fill the tank to the brim, note the mileage, drive, refill the tank to the brim and note how much fuel was needed, then calculate MPG. |
| Factors affecting MPG | Traffic, weather conditions, driving style, technical condition of the car, and other circumstances. |
| Real MPG | The Real MPG test shows the fuel economy you can expect from a car driven within speed limits and without fuel-saving measures. |
| Real MPG vs WLTP and NEDC | Real MPG results are 4% lower than WLTP official figures and 24% lower than NEDC figures. |
| Real MPG vs Manufacturer Figures | Manufacturer figures are 15-20% lower than actual consumption. |
| Real MPG by Car Make | Volvo, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, etc. |
| Online Tools | Fuelly, Spritmonitor.de, HonestJohn.co.uk, What Car?, Auto-ABC.eu, MotorEu.com |
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What You'll Learn
Calculating your car's MPG
MPG, or miles per gallon, is a way of measuring a car's fuel economy or fuel consumption. It tells you how many miles your car will cover on a gallon of fuel. For example, if your car does 35mpg, it can cover 35 miles on a gallon of fuel. Fuel is sold in litres in the UK, so it can be a little confusing when working out the cost. A gallon is around 4.5 litres (4.546 litres to be precise), so if fuel costs £1.50 a litre, a gallon costs £6.80.
There are various online tools and apps that can help you calculate your car's MPG, but you can also work it out yourself. The simplest way is to fill your car with fuel as normal and make a note of the mileage or reset the trip computer. When your car is low on fuel (around a quarter of a tank is ideal), fill it up again and record the number of litres of fuel you've put in. Now, convert this figure to gallons by dividing by 4.546, then divide the number of miles you've covered by the number of gallons. This will give you an accurate MPG figure.
It's worth noting that the MPG figures shown by manufacturers are usually lower than the actual consumption. This is because they don't account for variations in weather, car occupancy, and traffic congestion, all of which can affect fuel economy. Additionally, if you accelerate more briskly or slowly, or drive differently in any way, your calculated gas mileage may differ.
If you want to improve your car's MPG, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, drive a fuel-efficient vehicle – smaller, lighter cars tend to be more fuel-efficient than larger, heavier ones. Secondly, remove unnecessary weight from your car. For example, don't hitch a trailer to the back of your car unless you really need to. Thirdly, keep your tires inflated to the optimal PSI – under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% per PSI drop. Finally, roll up your windows when driving at high speeds – open windows add extra resistance, causing the engine to work harder to maintain the same speed.
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Real-world fuel economy
There are also simple calculations that can be done to work out a car's MPG. Firstly, fill the tank to the brim and note the mileage. Then, the next time the car is filled up, make a note of how many litres of fuel it takes. This figure can be converted into gallons by dividing it by 4.546 (or multiplying it by 0.219). Finally, divide the number of miles covered by the number of gallons of fuel used.
Real-world MPG figures are often lower than those provided by manufacturers. Honest John's Real MPG data is, on average, 4% lower than the latest WLTP official figures and 24% lower than the old NEDC figures. Auto ABC found that, on average, manufacturers' fuel consumption figures are 15-20% lower than the actual consumption. This discrepancy is likely due to variations in driving conditions, driving style, and the technical condition of the car. Weather, car occupancy, and traffic congestion can also impact fuel economy.
Some cars are more fuel-efficient than others. What Car? has found that the most efficient cars on sale today average almost 60mpg, with anything over 50mpg being impressive. Simple steps can be taken to improve a car's fuel economy, such as closing windows, clearing out the boot to reduce weight, and changing to a higher gear earlier.
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Fuel efficiency scores by manufacturer
Fuel efficiency is a measure of how much energy a car uses to travel a certain distance. It is typically measured in miles per gallon (MPG) or litres per 100 kilometres. The fuel efficiency of a car can vary depending on several factors, including the driving conditions, driving style, technical condition of the car, and other circumstances.
Volvo
Volvo cars have an average real petrol consumption difference of +11% and an average real diesel consumption difference of +16%.
Fiat
Fiat vehicles have an average real petrol consumption difference of +12% and an average real diesel consumption difference of +14%.
Ford
Ford cars show an average real petrol consumption difference of +15% and an average real diesel consumption difference of +18%.
Honda
Honda vehicles have an average real petrol consumption difference of +7% and an average real diesel consumption difference of +16%.
Hyundai
Hyundai cars exhibit an average real petrol consumption difference of +15%. In terms of diesel, they have an average consumption difference of +20%.
It is worth noting that these scores may not reflect the experience of all users and should be considered alongside other factors such as driving conditions, maintenance, and individual driving habits. Additionally, it is important to use the correct type of oil and avoid unnecessary weight in the vehicle to maintain optimal fuel efficiency.
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Tracking fuel usage
Tracking your car's fuel usage can help you monitor changes to your driving habits and keep tabs on the health of your vehicle. It can also help you calculate fuel expenses as you drive. Here are some ways to track your fuel usage:
Manual Calculation
One way to track fuel usage is to perform a manual calculation. Start by filling your car's fuel tank to the brim and noting the mileage or resetting the trip computer. The next time you visit a fuel station, fill your car again and note how much fuel it took. You can then calculate the number of litres of fuel you've used. To get your MPG (miles per gallon), convert the number of litres to gallons (in the UK, a gallon is around 4.5 litres, or 4.546 litres to be precise) and then divide the number of miles you've covered by the number of gallons of fuel you've used.
Online Calculators and Apps
There are also several online tools and apps that can help you track your fuel usage, such as Fuelly, Spritmonitor.de, and HonestJohn.co.uk. These tools allow you to enter your fuel usage data and will then calculate your car's fuel economy and help you manage vehicle costs. Some of these tools also offer additional features, such as analysing costs and comparing your results over time to understand your vehicle's performance.
It is important to note that factors such as weather, car occupancy, traffic congestion, and driving style can affect your fuel economy, so it may be helpful to keep track of these variables as well when tracking your fuel usage.
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Tips to save fuel
The speed you drive at is the most influential factor affecting fuel consumption. However, there are several other ways to change your driving habits and save fuel. Here are some tips to improve your fuel efficiency:
Tyre Pressure
Tyre pressures will vary depending on the load you are carrying. If your car is carrying four passengers and luggage, you will need your tyres inflated to the maximum recommended pressure. Underinflated and overinflated tyres adversely affect fuel economy.
Smooth Driving
Smooth driving involves steady acceleration and deceleration, minimising the need for stopping, starting, and changing speed quickly. Your engine has to work much harder to get your car in motion from a standstill, so gentle speed changes will create a slightly higher average speed and improve fuel economy.
Gears
When driving in urban areas, change up through the gears as quickly as possible with the lowest revs, probably around 2000rpm. At 40mph, your car will use 25% more fuel in third gear compared to fifth gear.
Cruise Control
Cruise control is likely to increase your fuel costs if used on hilly roads, as your car will have to work harder to maintain speed on an incline. Use cruise control on flat roads to save fuel.
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning and heating use engine power to work, increasing fuel consumption. Only use them if necessary. At low speeds, it is more fuel-efficient to open the window than to use air conditioning, but when driving on the motorway, it is more efficient to use air conditioning and keep the windows up. The tipping point for this is around 30 mph.
Remove Unnecessary Items
Your car uses more fuel if it is heavy. Remove unnecessary items from your car, such as a roof rack when not in use, and clear out the boot to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.
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Frequently asked questions
MPG stands for miles per gallon. It tells you how many miles your car can cover with one gallon of fuel. For example, if your car does 35mpg, it can cover 35 miles on a gallon of fuel.
Firstly, 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. Now, convert the number of litres into gallons and divide the number of miles you’ve covered by the number of gallons. This will give you your MPG figure.
Simple steps such as closing your car's windows and clearing out the boot to reduce weight can help improve your car's fuel economy. An engine burns less fuel at low revs, so changing up to a higher gear earlier and avoiding hard acceleration will also improve your fuel economy.
