MPG Meaning: What You Need To Know

It’s essential to know the MPG meaning of a vehicle that you’re interested in buying, regardless of whether your purchase is second-hand or brand new. Knowing the average miles per gallon in a car gives you a good idea of how much money you’ll need to spend on filling up at the petrol station.

What does MPG mean?

MPG meaning is used to show how far your car can travel for every gallon (or 4.55 litres) of fuel that you fill the tank up with. A higher MPG means that your car is consuming less fuel as you drive.

The primary measurement of a car's fuel efficiency is also determined by the MPG meaning. The higher the number, the more fuel efficient your vehicle is. The average miles per gallon in a car can often be inconsistent, as variable factors like weather and traffic make it difficult to get an accurate count.

Knowing the MPG of new and used cars allows consumers to compare the fuel efficiency of petrol/diesel and electric vehicles, when considering making a purchasing. The metric informs you about the difference in cost between operating different vehicles. When fuel prices are high and you’re on a tight budget, having an idea of how much money you're likely to need to spend on fuel can be crucial. You can calculate approximately how much you'll spend on fuel, depending on the distance that you drive on a regular basis.

What’s the average miles per gallon in a car?

The average miles per gallon in a car depends on a number of key factors… How smooth or aggressive your driving style is, the weather and road conditions and the amount of traffic are all combined to determine the average MPG of your vehicle.

Energy efficient cars typically average around 60mpg. But if you manage at least 50mpg, when you’re driving from A to B, you’ve hit a respectable MPG figure.

The higher the MPG number, the less money you have to spend on petrol or diesel fuel. If you’re driving an all-electric car, you’ll need to take note of the equivalent miles per kWh.

MPG

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How to work out miles per gallon?

Most new cars provide an MPG readout on the driver’s display or central infotainment system. If you’re driving an older model, you can calculate the MPG by resetting the car’s trip computer when you next fill up with fuel. Make a note of how many litres you need to fill up the tank, and convert the amount into gallons (1 litre = 0.22 gallons). This is best done when the car is almost running on empty. Keep a record of how many miles your car has travelled on the top up fuel, to make your MPG calculation.

Once you know how much ground your car can cover on a gallon of fuel, the easiest how to work out miles per gallon method requires simple arithmetic. If your car’s MPG is a decent 50mpg, you’ll be able to drive 50 miles before it runs out of fuel.

It’s also worth noting that the fuel economy often gets worse if you swap regular wheels for larger and heavier optional ones that generate greater aerodynamic drag. The rolling resistance can also have a negative impact on the MPG meaning of your vehicle.

And because other factors – your driving style, the type of road, traffic and the weather – also play a part in determining your car’s fuel economy and accurate MPG meaning, the figure is best used for comparison between cars rather than a guaranteed estimate.

Ways to reduce fuel consumption:

Regardless of whether or not you’re an environmentally conscious driver, it’s important to know how to reduce fuel consumption. There are many things that you can do to increase the number of miles that your vehicle can cover on a gallon of fuel.

If you drive a small, compact and modern car – that’s also hybrid – your energy efficiency rate is likely to be pretty good. Your car will also produce fewer emissions, as it burns fuel more efficiently if you have a higher MPG. It will additionally cost less to run than cars with a lower MPG readout.

Changing your driving habits can help you get a higher MPG rating. To use up less gas, avoid aggressive pedal pushing and make your acceleration and braking smoother. Removing the roof box or bars on your car, when not in use, will minimise aerodynamic drag that burns up fuel fast. As your car needs to burn more fuel in order to carry more mass, keep the boot free of heavy items during day-to-day driving. A steady 60-65mph speed, when cruising on the motorway, will also help to reduce your fuel consumption.

MPG

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Now that you’re wise on the MPG meaning, it’s time to find out how you can  'win an electric car’ in our BOTB Dream Car competition… Simply click the link to be in with a chance of owning a brand new, fuel efficient car!

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It’s essential to know the MPG meaning of a vehicle that you’re interested in buying, regardless of whether your purchase is second-hand or brand new. Knowing the average miles per gallon in a car gives you a good idea of how much money you’ll need to spend on filling up at the petrol station.

What does MPG mean?

MPG meaning is used to show how far your car can travel for every gallon (or 4.55 litres) of fuel that you fill the tank up with. A higher MPG means that your car is consuming less fuel as you drive.

The primary measurement of a car's fuel efficiency is also determined by the MPG meaning. The higher the number, the more fuel efficient your vehicle is. The average miles per gallon in a car can often be inconsistent, as variable factors like weather and traffic make it difficult to get an accurate count.

Knowing the MPG of new and used cars allows consumers to compare the fuel efficiency of petrol/diesel and electric vehicles, when considering making a purchasing. The metric informs you about the difference in cost between operating different vehicles. When fuel prices are high and you’re on a tight budget, having an idea of how much money you're likely to need to spend on fuel can be crucial. You can calculate approximately how much you'll spend on fuel, depending on the distance that you drive on a regular basis.

What’s the average miles per gallon in a car?

The average miles per gallon in a car depends on a number of key factors… How smooth or aggressive your driving style is, the weather and road conditions and the amount of traffic are all combined to determine the average MPG of your vehicle.

Energy efficient cars typically average around 60mpg. But if you manage at least 50mpg, when you’re driving from A to B, you’ve hit a respectable MPG figure.

The higher the MPG number, the less money you have to spend on petrol or diesel fuel. If you’re driving an all-electric car, you’ll need to take note of the equivalent miles per kWh.

MPG

Keep reading to the end of our informative blog, to find out how you can win an electric car in our awesome BOTB Win Your Dream Car competition…

How to work out miles per gallon?

Most new cars provide an MPG readout on the driver’s display or central infotainment system. If you’re driving an older model, you can calculate the MPG by resetting the car’s trip computer when you next fill up with fuel. Make a note of how many litres you need to fill up the tank, and convert the amount into gallons (1 litre = 0.22 gallons). This is best done when the car is almost running on empty. Keep a record of how many miles your car has travelled on the top up fuel, to make your MPG calculation.

Once you know how much ground your car can cover on a gallon of fuel, the easiest how to work out miles per gallon method requires simple arithmetic. If your car’s MPG is a decent 50mpg, you’ll be able to drive 50 miles before it runs out of fuel.

It’s also worth noting that the fuel economy often gets worse if you swap regular wheels for larger and heavier optional ones that generate greater aerodynamic drag. The rolling resistance can also have a negative impact on the MPG meaning of your vehicle.

And because other factors – your driving style, the type of road, traffic and the weather – also play a part in determining your car’s fuel economy and accurate MPG meaning, the figure is best used for comparison between cars rather than a guaranteed estimate.

Ways to reduce fuel consumption:

Regardless of whether or not you’re an environmentally conscious driver, it’s important to know how to reduce fuel consumption. There are many things that you can do to increase the number of miles that your vehicle can cover on a gallon of fuel.

If you drive a small, compact and modern car – that’s also hybrid – your energy efficiency rate is likely to be pretty good. Your car will also produce fewer emissions, as it burns fuel more efficiently if you have a higher MPG. It will additionally cost less to run than cars with a lower MPG readout.

Changing your driving habits can help you get a higher MPG rating. To use up less gas, avoid aggressive pedal pushing and make your acceleration and braking smoother. Removing the roof box or bars on your car, when not in use, will minimise aerodynamic drag that burns up fuel fast. As your car needs to burn more fuel in order to carry more mass, keep the boot free of heavy items during day-to-day driving. A steady 60-65mph speed, when cruising on the motorway, will also help to reduce your fuel consumption.

MPG

Win an electric car

Now that you’re wise on the MPG meaning, it’s time to find out how you can  'win an electric car’ in our BOTB Dream Car competition… Simply click the link to be in with a chance of owning a brand new, fuel efficient car!

Wait! There’s More Prizes at BOTB

At BOTB, you have the chance to win all sorts of prizes! Whether you want to win money, win a car, win a campervan, win a PS5, or another exciting prize, BOTB’s the competition site for you – after all, ‘best of the best’ is in the name! We even have a free competition where you can win a holiday to beat those post-holiday blues!

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