Understanding Car Fuel Efficiency: The Average Fuel Economy Explained

The average fuel economy in a car is a mathematically derived average that is used to compare the relative efficiency of different makes and models. The average fuel consumption per 100km varies significantly between cars, SUVs, and light commercial vehicles. For instance, a small city hatchback should be able to achieve an average fuel consumption of around six to seven litres per 100km, while a mid-sized SUV will be closer to eight or nine litres per 100km.

Average fuel economy by vehicle category

The average fuel economy of vehicles in the United States is measured in gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs). This is a quantity of fuel with the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of gasoline.

The average fuel economy of vehicles varies by vehicle category. Refuse trucks and transit buses have relatively low fuel economy because they are heavy and drive stop-and-go drive cycles. Class 8 trucks, which carry heavier loads but drive more consistent drive cycles, also have relatively low fuel economy.

A small city hatchback should be able to achieve an average fuel consumption of around six to seven litres per 100km. A mid-sized SUV will be closer to eight or nine litres per 100km and a full-sized family SUV will use closer to 10 litres per 100km in the real world. A dual-cab, four-wheel drive ute – even though it has a diesel engine – is also likely to be around the 10 litres per 100km mark.

Hybrids skew those figures even more and also buck the trend by actually having lower fuel consumption in an urban setting than they do on the highway, the total opposite of conventional cars.

Average fuel consumption is a great way to compare the relative efficiency of different makes and models. Looking at a single fuel consumption figure might give you part of the picture, but a set of average consumption figures covering different cars is a great basis on which to make a comparison.

Fuel consumption per 100km comparison

The average fuel consumption of vehicles in the United States is measured in gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs). This is a quantity of fuel with the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of gasoline.

The average fuel consumption per 100km varies depending on the type of vehicle. Small city hatchbacks should be able to achieve an average fuel consumption of around six to seven litres per 100km. Mid-sized SUVs will be closer to eight or nine litres per 100km, and full-sized family SUVs will use closer to 10 litres per 100km.

Dual-cab, four-wheel drive utes with diesel engines are also likely to be around the 10 litres per 100km mark. Hybrids skew these figures even more and also buck the trend by actually having lower fuel consumption in an urban setting than they do on the highway.

The average fuel consumption per 100km is a great way to compare the relative efficiency of different makes and models. Looking at a single fuel consumption figure might give you part of the picture, but a set of average consumption figures covering different cars is a great basis on which to make a comparison.

Fuel consumption trends by vehicle type

The average fuel economy of vehicles in the United States is measured in gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs), which is a quantity of fuel with the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of gasoline. Refuse trucks and transit buses have relatively low fuel economy because they are heavy and drive stop-and-go drive cycles. Class 8 trucks, which carry heavier loads but drive more consistent drive cycles, also have relatively low fuel economy.

The average fuel consumption per 100km between cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles varies. A small city hatchback should be able to achieve an average fuel consumption of around six to seven litres per 100km, a mid-sized SUV will be closer to eight or nine litres per 100km and a full-sized family SUV will use closer to 10 litres per 100km in the real world. A dual-cab, four-wheel drive ute – even though it has a diesel engine – is also likely to be around the 10 litres per 100km mark. Hybrids skew those figures even more and also buck the trend by actually having lower fuel consumption in an urban setting than they do on the highway, the total opposite of conventional cars.

The average fuel consumption is a great way to compare the relative efficiency of different makes and models. Looking at a single fuel consumption figure might give you part of the picture, but a set of average consumption figures covering different cars is a great basis on which to make a comparison.

Fuel consumption trends by travel mode

The average fuel economy of vehicles in the United States is measured in gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs). This is a quantity of fuel with the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of gasoline.

Refuse trucks and transit buses have relatively low fuel economy because they are heavy and drive stop-and-go drive cycles. Class 8 trucks, which carry heavier loads but drive more consistent drive cycles, also have relatively low fuel economy.

The average fuel consumption per 100km varies between different types of vehicles. For example, a small city hatchback should be able to achieve an average fuel consumption of around six to seven litres per 100km, a mid-sized SUV will be closer to eight or nine litres per 100km and a full-sized family SUV will use closer to 10 litres per 100km in the real world.

A dual-cab, four-wheel drive ute – even though it has a diesel engine – is also likely to be around the 10 litres per 100km mark. Hybrids skew those figures even more and also buck the trend by actually having lower fuel consumption in an urban setting than they do on the highway, the total opposite of conventional cars.

Average fuel consumption is a great way to compare the relative efficiency of different makes and models. Looking at a single fuel consumption figure might give you part of the picture, but a set of average consumption figures covering different cars is a great basis on which to make a comparison.

Fuel consumption trends by vehicle size

The average fuel economy of vehicles in the United States is measured in gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs), representing a quantity of fuel with the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of gasoline. Refuse trucks and transit buses have relatively low fuel economy because they are heavy and drive stop-and-go drive cycles. Class 8 trucks, which carry heavier loads but drive more consistent drive cycles, also have relatively low fuel economy.

When it comes to average fuel consumption per 100km, there are no hard and fast rules on this subject. However, as a rule of thumb, a small city hatchback should be able to achieve an average fuel consumption of around six to seven litres per 100km, a mid-sized SUV will be closer to eight or nine litres per 100km and a full-sized family SUV will use closer to 10 litres per 100km in the real world.

Something like a dual-cab, four-wheel drive ute – even though it has a diesel engine – is also likely to be around the 10 litres per 100km mark. Hybrids skew those figures even more and also buck the trend by actually having lower fuel consumption in an urban setting than they do on the highway, the total opposite of conventional cars.

Average fuel consumption is a great way to compare the relative efficiency of different makes and models. Looking at a single fuel consumption figure might give you part of the picture, but a set of average consumption figures covering different cars is a great basis on which to make a comparison.

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