What is MPG and how does it relate to L/100km?

MPG (miles per gallon) measures how far a vehicle travels on one gallon of fuel (higher = more efficient). L/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) measures how many liters are needed to travel 100 km (lower = more efficient). To convert: L/100km = 235.21 / MPG. Example: 30 MPG = 235.21/30 = 7.84 L/100km.

What is good fuel efficiency in MPG?

In the US: below 25 MPG is poor, 25-35 MPG is average, 35-45 MPG is good, 45+ MPG is excellent (hybrid territory). EPA fuel economy labels rate: compact cars at 25-35 MPG combined, hybrids at 45-55 MPG, EVs are rated in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). SUVs and trucks typically average 18-28 MPG.

How do I convert km/L to L/100km?

L/100km = 100 / (km/L). Example: 15 km/L = 100/15 = 6.67 L/100km. Some countries (Japan) use km/L; others (Europe, Canada) use L/100km. km/L x 2.3521 = MPG.

What is MPGe for electric vehicles?

MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) converts EV electricity consumption to a gasoline equivalent. The EPA uses 33.7 kWh as the energy equivalent of 1 gallon of gasoline. MPGe = 33.7 / kWh per 100 miles x 100. A Tesla Model 3 gets about 132 MPGe, far exceeding the best gasoline cars.

Fuel Efficiency Converter

Convert between L/100km, km/L, mpg (US/UK) and gal/100mi.

About Fuel Efficiency Units

Fuel efficiency describes how far a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel. L/100km (liters per 100 km) is used in Europe, Canada, and Australia. mpg (US) and mpg (UK) are used in the United States and United Kingdom respectively. km/L is common in Asia.

Quick Reference Table

L/100km	km/L	mpg (US)	mpg (UK)
5	20	47.05	56.50
8	12.5	29.40	35.31
10	10	23.52	28.25
15	6.67	15.68	18.83

Related Converters

Fuel Efficiency - Mass Converter • Fuel Efficiency - Volume Converter • Speed Converter

mpg vs L/100km — Why They Work Inversely

Miles per gallon (mpg) and litres per 100 km (L/100km) measure the same thing but in opposite directions. Higher mpg means more efficient; lower L/100km means more efficient. When comparing cars: a 50 mpg vehicle uses 4.7 L/100km. Converting: L/100km = 235.21 / (US mpg). This inverse relationship means a 1 mpg improvement at low efficiency (e.g., 15→16 mpg) saves far more fuel over a given distance than a 1 mpg improvement at high efficiency (e.g., 49→50 mpg).

Fuel Efficiency Conversion Table

US mpg	UK mpg	L/100km	km/L
25	30.0	9.41	10.6
35	42.1	6.72	14.9
50	60.1	4.70	21.2

Understanding Fuel Efficiency Units

Fuel efficiency measures how far a vehicle travels per unit of fuel. The US uses miles per gallon (mpg); the UK uses miles per gallon of imperial gallons (mpg UK, ≈ 1.2× larger than US gallons); most countries use litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km), which is the inverse of mpg. To convert: mpg (US) = 235.215 / L/100km. A car getting 30 mpg (US) gets 25 mpg (UK) and consumes 7.84 L/100km.

L/100km and mpg are inversely related — better fuel economy is a higher mpg but a lower L/100km. An economical car at 6 L/100km = 39.2 mpg US; a large SUV at 15 L/100km = 15.7 mpg US. When comparing vehicles across markets, always confirm whether mpg is US or imperial. Electric vehicles use kWh per 100 miles (US) or miles per kWh (UK) — different again.

Fuel Efficiency Conversions

L/100km	mpg (US)	mpg (UK)	Context
5	47.0	56.5	Hybrid car
7	33.6	40.4	Efficient petrol car
10	23.5	28.2	Average SUV
12	19.6	23.5	Truck/van
15	15.7	18.8	Large truck

Fuel Efficiency Units Around the World

Fuel efficiency describes how far a vehicle travels per unit of fuel. Miles per gallon (MPG) is standard in the United States. Kilometers per liter (km/L) is used in Japan, India, and parts of Latin America. Liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) is the standard in Europe, Canada, and Australia; note that this is an inverse measure — a lower number means better fuel economy. Miles per imperial gallon (MPG imperial) is used in the UK. Converting between these systems requires care because L/100km and MPG are inversely related: MPG = 235.215 / (L/100km). A vehicle rated at 7 L/100km equals approximately 33.6 MPG US. International car buyers, fleet managers evaluating imported vehicles, and travelers renting cars abroad all need these conversions. Regulatory agencies compare CO&sub2; emissions (g/km) which correlate directly with L/100km fuel consumption, linking environmental and efficiency metrics.

Fuel Efficiency Reference Table

L/100km	MPG (US)	km/L
5	47.1	20.0
7	33.6	14.3
10	23.5	10.0
12	19.6	8.33
15	15.7	6.67