Choosing the right fuel economy conversion
US miles per gallon measures distance per unit of fuel, while liters per 100 kilometers measures fuel consumed per distance. Because the quantities point in opposite directions, the conversion is reciprocal rather than linear.
A higher MPG value corresponds to a lower L/100 km value. Real consumption also depends on driving conditions, temperature, load, maintenance, traffic, and measurement method.
Common uses
- Comparing vehicles across markets
- Planning fuel use for a trip
- Reading international vehicle specifications
Fuel Economy converters
Use converted values confidently
- Confirm that MPG is US rather than imperial.
- Zero cannot be converted with the reciprocal formula.
- Use real trip data for budgeting, not only rated consumption.