Fuel economy measures how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel. Different countries use different metrics: km/L in Japan, L/100km in Europe, and MPG in the US and UK. Understanding these helps compare vehicles globally.
Three Different Approaches
km/L and MPG measure distance per fuel (higher = better). L/100km measures fuel per distance (lower = better). This inverse relationship makes mental conversion tricky.
Key Conversions
- 1 L/100km = 100 km/L (inverse)
- 1 km/L ≈ 2.352 MPG (US)
- 1 km/L ≈ 2.825 MPG (Imperial)
- 1 MPG (US) ≈ 0.425 km/L ≈ 235.2 L/100km (inverse)
For quick estimate: L/100km × 4 ≈ MPG (US). So 8 L/100km ≈ 32 MPG.
Typical Vehicle Efficiency
Compact car: 5–7 L/100km (35–47 MPG US). Midsize sedan: 7–10 L/100km (24–35 MPG). SUV: 10–15 L/100km (16–24 MPG). Electric equivalent: measured in kWh/100km or MPGe.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert L/100km to MPG?
Divide 235.2 by L/100km for US MPG. Example: 8 L/100km → 235.2 ÷ 8 = 29.4 MPG (US). For UK MPG, divide 282.5 by L/100km.
Why does the US use MPG while Europe uses L/100km?
They measure the same thing from opposite directions. MPG (distance per fuel) feels intuitive for drivers. L/100km (fuel per distance) is better for calculating fuel costs for a known trip distance.