Fuel Consumption Calculator — Compare Fuel Efficiency
Enter distance driven and fuel used to see fuel consumption in all common units. Use the Compare tab to compare two vehicles side by side, or Odometer to calculate from fill-up readings.
How Fuel Consumption Is Calculated
Fuel economy (distance per unit of fuel — higher is better):
- MPG (US): miles ÷ US gallons
- MPG (UK): miles ÷ Imperial gallons (1 imp gal = 4.546 L)
- km/L: kilometers ÷ liters
Fuel consumption (fuel per unit of distance — lower is better):
- L/100km: (liters ÷ kilometers) × 100
- Gallons/100mi: (gallons ÷ miles) × 100
Convert between them: L/100km = 235.215 ÷ MPG(US). This factor = 100 × 3.785412 ÷ 1.609344.
- Annual cost: (annual miles ÷ MPG) × gas price
- CO2: gallons × 8.887 kg/gal (EPA, gasoline)
Fuel Consumption by Vehicle Type
| Vehicle | MPG (US) | L/100km | Annual Cost* | CO2/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius (Hybrid) | 57 | 4.1 | $921 | 2.3 t |
| Honda Civic | 36 | 6.5 | $1,458 | 3.7 t |
| Toyota Camry | 32 | 7.4 | $1,641 | 4.2 t |
| Toyota RAV4 | 30 | 7.8 | $1,750 | 4.4 t |
| Honda CR-V | 33 | 7.1 | $1,591 | 4.0 t |
| Ford F-150 | 24 | 9.8 | $2,188 | 5.6 t |
| Chevy Tahoe | 19 | 12.4 | $2,763 | 7.0 t |
| Jeep Wrangler | 22 | 10.7 | $2,386 | 6.1 t |
*Based on 15,000 mi/yr at $3.50/gal. MPG values are approximate combined city/highway. Source: fueleconomy.gov.
Electric Vehicles (for comparison)
| Vehicle | MPGe | kWh/100mi | Annual Cost** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 132 | 25 | $638 |
| Tesla Model Y | 122 | 27 | $689 |
| Chevy Bolt EV | 120 | 29 | $740 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 100 | 33 | $842 |
**Based on 15,000 mi/yr at $0.17/kWh (US avg residential, EIA).
Why L/100km Is Better for Comparing Vehicles
MPG is an inverse scale, which makes it misleading for comparisons. Consider:
- Upgrading from 15 MPG to 25 MPG (10 MPG gain): saves 400 gal/yr → $1,400/yr
- Upgrading from 35 MPG to 45 MPG (also 10 MPG gain): saves only 95 gal/yr → $333/yr
The same “10 MPG improvement” saves 4× more fuel on the less efficient vehicle! L/100km avoids this trap because it’s linear: each 1 L/100km improvement always saves the same amount of fuel. This is also why the EPA now shows “gallons per 100 miles” — the US equivalent of L/100km.
Typical Fuel Economy by Vehicle Type
| Vehicle Type | MPG Range | L/100km Range | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcompact | 30–40 | 5.9–7.8 | Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris |
| Compact sedan | 28–38 | 6.2–8.4 | Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla |
| Midsize sedan | 25–35 | 6.7–9.4 | Toyota Camry, Honda Accord |
| Compact SUV | 24–32 | 7.4–9.8 | Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V |
| Full-size SUV | 18–24 | 9.8–13.1 | Chevy Tahoe, Ford Explorer |
| Pickup truck | 17–25 | 9.4–13.8 | Ford F-150, Ram 1500 |
| Hybrid | 40–58 | 4.1–5.9 | Toyota Prius, Honda Insight |
| PHEV | 50–130 MPGe | varies | RAV4 Prime, Prius Prime |
Approximate combined city/highway. Source: fueleconomy.gov.
City vs Highway Fuel Consumption
City driving typically uses 15–30% more fuel than highway driving due to stop-and-go traffic, idling, and frequent acceleration. For example:
- Honda Civic: 33 MPG city / 42 MPG highway (27% difference)
- Ford F-150: 20 MPG city / 26 MPG highway (30% difference)
- Toyota Prius: 58 MPG city / 53 MPG highway (hybrids do better in city due to regenerative braking)
EPA tests simulate city driving at an average 20 mph with stop-and-go, and highway at an average 48 mph with free-flow traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is fuel consumption?
The rate at which a vehicle uses fuel, measured in MPG (higher = better) or L/100km (lower = better). It depends on vehicle type, driving conditions, speed, and maintenance.
L/100km or MPG — which is better for comparing?
They measure the same thing differently. L/100km is more intuitive for comparing vehicles because the scale is linear — each 1 L/100km improvement saves the same amount of fuel. MPG is on an inverse scale: improving from 15 to 25 MPG saves 4× more fuel than improving from 35 to 45 MPG. MPG is more familiar to US drivers; L/100km is standard in Europe and Australia.
How much CO2 does a gallon of gas produce?
Burning 1 US gallon of gasoline produces 8.887 kg (19.6 lbs) of CO2 according to the EPA. A car getting 25 MPG produces about 356 g CO2 per mile.
How can I improve my fuel economy?
Maintain steady speed, avoid rapid acceleration, check tire pressure monthly (underinflation costs about 0.2% per 1 psi), remove roof racks when not in use, and use cruise control on highways.
Related Calculators
- Gas Trip Cost Calculator — know your consumption? calculate trip cost
- MPG Calculator — need to calculate MPG first?
- EV Charging Cost Calculator — compare electric vs gas
- Monthly Gas Cost Calculator — budget your commute
- Speed Converter — consumption varies with cruising speed
- Kilometers to Miles — convert distance for trip planning
- All Fuel Calculators
Fuel consumption data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at $3.50/gal. CO2 factor: 8.887 kg/gal (EPA). Last reviewed: 2026-07-12.