Calculate your vehicle's miles per gallon (MPG) to track fuel economy and gas mileage. Understanding your car's fuel efficiency helps you save money on gas and reduce your carbon footprint. Use our free MPG calculator to determine your vehicle's fuel consumption instantly.
Calculate Your MPG
Average MPG by Vehicle Type - Comparison Chart
Compare fuel economy ratings across different vehicle classes. These EPA estimates show typical city MPG, highway MPG, and combined MPG values for various vehicle types.
| Vehicle Type | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Cars | 50 | 52 | 51 | Toyota Prius, Honda Insight |
| Compact Cars | 30 | 40 | 34 | Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla |
| Midsize Sedans | 25 | 35 | 29 | Honda Accord, Toyota Camry |
| Small SUVs | 24 | 30 | 27 | Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 |
| Midsize SUVs | 20 | 27 | 23 | Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse |
| Pickup Trucks | 17 | 23 | 19 | Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado |
| Large SUVs | 15 | 21 | 17 | Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition |
| Electric Vehicles | N/A | N/A | N/A | Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf (MPGe: 110+) |
Note: Electric vehicles use MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) instead of traditional MPG. Hybrid vehicles typically achieve the best fuel economy in city driving due to regenerative braking.
Understanding City vs Highway MPG
City MPG
City fuel economy measures MPG in urban driving conditions with frequent stops, starts, and idling. Lower speeds and constant acceleration result in reduced fuel efficiency.
- • More frequent stops and starts
- • Lower average speeds (typically 20-30 mph)
- • More time idling at traffic lights
- • Higher fuel consumption per mile
Highway MPG
Highway fuel economy measures MPG during steady highway cruising. Consistent speeds and minimal braking result in better fuel efficiency for most vehicles.
- • Steady cruising speeds (typically 55-70 mph)
- • Minimal stopping and starting
- • Less idling time
- • Better fuel efficiency per mile
Combined MPG Rating
The combined MPG rating represents a weighted average of city and highway fuel economy, assuming 55% city driving and 45% highway driving. This EPA fuel economy estimate provides the most realistic measure of real-world gas mileage for most drivers.
Historical Fuel Economy Trends
Average vehicle fuel economy in the United States has improved significantly over the past decades due to technological advances and stricter fuel economy standards.
20 MPG
Average in 2000
Before major fuel economy regulations
25 MPG
Average in 2015
After CAFE standards implementation
27+ MPG
Average in 2024
Modern fuel-efficient vehicles
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) continue to raise fuel economy standards to reduce emissions and improve vehicle fuel efficiency. Modern engines, hybrid technology, and aerodynamic improvements have contributed to better gas mileage across all vehicle classes.
Top Fuel-Efficient Vehicles by Category
Best Hybrid Cars (50+ MPG)
- • Toyota Prius: 57 city / 56 highway MPG
- • Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid: 58 city / 60 highway MPG
- • Honda Insight: 55 city / 49 highway MPG
- • Toyota Corolla Hybrid: 53 city / 52 highway MPG
Best Non-Hybrid Cars (35+ MPG)
- • Honda Civic: 32 city / 42 highway MPG
- • Toyota Corolla: 30 city / 38 highway MPG
- • Mazda3: 28 city / 36 highway MPG
- • Hyundai Elantra: 33 city / 43 highway MPG
Best Fuel-Efficient SUVs (30+ MPG)
- • Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: 41 city / 38 highway MPG
- • Honda CR-V Hybrid: 40 city / 35 highway MPG
- • Mazda CX-5: 25 city / 31 highway MPG
- • Subaru Crosstrek: 28 city / 33 highway MPG
How to Calculate Miles Per Gallon
Miles per gallon (MPG) measures your vehicle's fuel efficiency - how far your car can travel on one gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel.
Formula:
MPG = Miles Driven ÷ Gallons of Fuel Used
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Fill your vehicle's fuel tank completely
- Record your current odometer reading
- Drive your vehicle normally until you need to refuel
- Fill the tank completely again and note the gallons purchased
- Record your new odometer reading
- Calculate miles driven (new reading - old reading)
- Divide miles driven by gallons used to get your MPG
Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage
Driving Habits
- • Avoid aggressive acceleration and braking
- • Maintain steady speeds using cruise control
- • Reduce idling time
- • Observe speed limits (fuel economy decreases above 50 mph)
Vehicle Maintenance
- • Keep tires properly inflated
- • Use the recommended motor oil grade
- • Replace air filters regularly
- • Remove excess weight from your vehicle
Official Resources
MPG vs MPGe: Understanding the Difference
MPG (Miles Per Gallon)
Traditional miles per gallon measurement for gasoline and diesel vehicles. Calculates how many miles a vehicle can travel on one gallon of liquid fuel. Used for conventional internal combustion engines.
MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent)
MPG equivalent for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Compares energy consumption of alternative fuel vehicles to gasoline. One gallon of gasoline equals 33.7 kWh of electricity for MPGe calculations.
Example: A Tesla Model 3 with 132 MPGe means it travels the same distance on 33.7 kWh of electricity as a gas car would on one gallon of gasoline. This EPA standard allows direct comparison between electric vehicles and traditional gas-powered cars.
Diesel vs Gasoline Fuel Economy
Diesel fuel economy typically exceeds gasoline fuel economy by 20-35% due to higher energy density and compression ignition efficiency.
Gasoline Engines
- • Lower fuel energy density
- • Spark ignition combustion
- • Typical range: 20-35 MPG for sedans
- • Better for short trips and city driving
- • Lower upfront vehicle cost
Diesel Engines
- • Higher fuel energy density (15% more per gallon)
- • Compression ignition combustion
- • Typical range: 30-45 MPG for sedans
- • Better for highway and long-distance driving
- • Higher upfront vehicle cost
While diesel fuel efficiency is superior, consider total cost of ownership including fuel prices, maintenance costs, and vehicle purchase price when comparing diesel and gasoline vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Miles Per Gallon
What is a good MPG?
A good MPG depends on the vehicle type. For cars, 30-40 MPG is considered good, while 40+ MPG is excellent. SUVs and trucks typically achieve 20-30 MPG. Hybrid vehicles often exceed 50 MPG. The EPA fuel economy ratings help consumers compare different vehicles.
What affects fuel economy?
Fuel economy is affected by driving habits, vehicle condition, tire pressure, vehicle weight, aerodynamics, weather conditions, terrain, and fuel quality. City driving typically yields lower gas mileage than highway driving due to frequent acceleration and braking.
How often should I calculate my MPG?
Track your miles per gallon every time you fill up to identify trends and catch potential vehicle problems early. Sudden decreases in fuel efficiency may indicate maintenance issues like dirty air filters, worn spark plugs, or tire pressure problems.
What's the difference between MPG and fuel consumption?
MPG (miles per gallon) measures distance traveled per unit of fuel. Fuel consumption measures fuel used per distance (gallons per 100 miles or liters per 100 km). They're inverse measurements of the same concept. Higher MPG means lower fuel consumption.
Why is my actual MPG different from EPA estimates?
EPA fuel economy estimates are tested in controlled laboratory conditions. Real-world gas mileage varies based on driving style, traffic conditions, terrain, weather, vehicle load, and maintenance. Aggressive driving, frequent idling, and under-inflated tires reduce actual fuel economy.
How can I improve my vehicle's MPG?
Improve fuel efficiency by maintaining proper tire pressure, reducing vehicle weight, avoiding aggressive driving, using cruise control on highways, combining trips, and keeping up with regular vehicle maintenance. These simple changes can improve gas mileage by 10-25%.