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Are you planning to save fuel and money? MPG is the solution. When you think of buying a new car or analyse your vehicle’s performance, one of the most important situations you’ll come across is MPG. Let us know more about MPG
We are living in a world where fuel charges fluctuate faster than ever, actually fuel cost is rising high day-by-day and it has become a concerning problem and a matter that should be looked into. While looking for a car or reading reviews, you might’ve heard the term MGP.
It does not matter if you travel or drive a car daily, or if you are an occasional driver, understanding MPG can help you in making a huge difference in how much you spend on fuel and how environmentally friendly your ride is. Read along to find out everything you need to know about MPG.
Full form of MPG
MPG stands for Miles Per Gallon. It is most commonly used in the United States along with some other countries, MPG is a standard unit of measurement of fuel. It measures how many miles a vehicle can travel using one gallon of fuel (whether it’s petrol or diesel). The higher the MPG, the more fuel-efficient (lesser fuel consumption) the vehicle is.
If you are still confused about how MPG actually works, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. We will help you understand the concept and usage of MPG easily with an easy example.
For example, consider a car has 30 MPG, it means that the car can travel 30 miles using just one gallon of fuel. MPG is basically the miles a car is travelling by consuming 1 gallon (3.785 litres) of fuel.
What is Miles Per Gallon?
MPG or Miles per gallon is a term used to measure how much your car has travelled in 3.785 litres of fuel. It tells you how fuel-efficient your vehicle is and gives you an idea on how much you will have to spend on fueling your car.
MPG can help you make better decisions when you are buying a new car or just planning to do so. You can do your research, compare models and track vehicle performance to make the right choice. MPG should be one of the first numbers to check if you are planning to buy a vehicle with lower fuel costs and reduced emissions.
If you are someone who drives frequently and for longer times, a higher MPG vehicle would save you a lot of time and money, because higher MPG reduces the need to stop for fuel re-filling.
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Why is MPG important?
MPG is not just a term that you should understand the meaning of. If you plan to own a vehicle today or in the near future, it is essential that you’re familiar with the concept of MPG and fuel charges. Because regardless of the luxuries a vehicle gets you, it comes with a lot of expenses. So, you must try to cut off the cost wherever you can.
Knowing and understanding MPG can help you in not just one but multiple ways like:
1. Compare Fuel Efficiency
MPG is a measuring unit which allows you to easily compare how fuel-efficient different cars are. For example if Car1 gives 25MPG and Car2 gives 35MPG, then Car2 is definitely more efficient because it uses less fuel to cover the same distance.
2. Saves Money
Fuel is one of the biggest ongoing expenses of owning a vehicle. A car with higher MPG will consume less fuel for the same trip as compared to the car with lesser MPG. The price difference might not be noticeable in the initial period but it will gradually add up to thousands of rupees or dollars later.
3. Saves Time
Cars with higher MPG consumes less fuel which makes the drive more smooth and stop-free. It reduces the need to frequently stop for fuel re-filling which saves a lot of time.
4. Reduces harmful impact on environment
Petrol or diesel cars have an adverse effect on the environment because the more fuel they consume, the more carbon dioxide they release along with other harmful substances. This is also one of the main reasons why MPG is considered an important factor to look at while thinking of buying a new car or any vehicle.
How to calculate MPG?
Calculating Miles Per Gallon is no big deal, you can easily calculate MPG as it is a simple yet effective way to find out the fuel-efficiency of your car and get a clear idea of how far your car can travel on each gallon of fuel you put in.
The basic method or the formula used to calculate MPG is:
| MPG = Total Miles Driven ÷ Gallons of fuel used |
- Total miles driven refers to the total distance your car has covered. You can check it on your car’s trip meter or odometer.
- Gallons of fuel used refers to the total fuel you filled up during that distance.
(1 US gallon = 3.785 litres)
Is it possible to improve my car’s MPG?
Yes, there are ways by which you can improve your car’s MPG. Fuel efficiency and consumption does not completely depend on the car but also on how you use it and maintain your vehicle.
The best part is that you do not need any mechanical or technical skills or knowledge to improve the MPG of your car, just a few right steps and actions can help you in making a difference in your car’s MPG.
Check out some of the most common and easy ways to improve your car’s MPG:
- Maintain proper tyre pressure
- Avoid sudden braking and acceleration
- Use cruise control on highways (consistent speed)
- Get regular engine checkups
- Reduce idle time
Types of MPG ratings
There are majorly three categories of MPG values for vehicles, you can check them out below:
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION |
| City MPG | Fuel efficiency in stop and go city traffic |
| Highway MPG | Fuel efficiency on highways at higher, steady speeds |
| Combined MPG | Average of both city and highway ratings |
What is a decent MPG rating?
The MPG rating depends on the type of vehicle and many other factors. A list of MPG ratings considered decent for each type of vehicle is listed below, have a look as it can help you in making your decision while buying a new car.
| VEHICLE TYPE | GOOD MPG rating |
| Compact Cars | 30-40+ |
| SUVs | 20-30 |
| Trucks | 15-25 |
| Electric Vehicle (EVs) | 50+ |
TIP: If you drive frequently or have a long routine of driving daily then choose a car with HIGHER MPG.
MPGe: The Electric Version of MPG
Nowadays, Electric vehicles are gaining much popularity. Due to this a new term has been introduced:MPGe. MPGe stands for Miles Per Gallon Equivalent. The electric vehicles don’t use diesel or petrol therefore MPGe is used to show how efficiently they use electricity instead of fuel.
This new introduction of MPGe has helped people in comparing traditional cars with EV cars and making a better decision. Here’s a quick comparison between EV and fuel cars to understand how the concept of MPG and MPGe works.
1 gallon of petrol contains 33.7 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy, so if an EV uses 33.7 kWh to go 100 miles then its MPGe rating is 100 MPGe.
Higher the MPG/MPGe, better the efficiency.
Do Hybrid cars save more fuel?
Hybrid, as the name suggests, are the ones which use both fuel and electric motors to work. Hybrid cars were introduced to have a positive impact on the environment because the vehicles with petrol or diesels release excessive carbon dioxide which causes pollution.
Due to the rising problem of pollution the use of EV cars came into existence and gained popularity.
Hybrid cars combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor to work, which reduces the amount of fuel used to power the vehicle because now the energy is also consumed from the motor This makes a significant difference, especially when driving at low speeds or in traffic.
As a result, most hybrid cars have a rating of about 45 to 60 MPG. This is much better compared to regular petrol or diesel cars, which average around 25-30 MPG.
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FAQs on MPG Full Form
What is a good MPG for a car?
A good MPG for any vehicle depends on the type of the vehicle. For traditional petrol or diesel cars, MPG above 30 is considered good whereas electric cars or hybrid cars have higher MPG-around 45-60.
How can I check my car’s MPG manually?
You can easily calculate your car’s MPG by using a simple formula: MPG = Miles Driven ÷ Gallons of fuel used.
Does using AC reduce MPG?
Yes, continuously using AC in the car puts extra load on the engine due to which extra fuel is consumed, especially in areas with traffic. However it does not impact much on highways.
