Global Fuel CalculatorWhat is a good MPG? (And is 30 MPG good?)
It depends on what you drive and which gallon you are counting. A figure that looks ordinary for a small hatchback would be remarkable for a pickup, and a British MPG number runs about a fifth higher than an American one for the very same car. Here is a plain way to judge your own figure.
The short answer
For a typical petrol car in the US, around 30 MPG (7.84 L/100km) or better is generally considered good, and about 25 MPG (9.41 L/100km) is roughly average across cars, SUVs and trucks together. Hybrids start at around 45 MPG (5.23 L/100km), and a very efficient one passes 50 MPG (4.70 L/100km). Once you drop below 20 MPG (11.76 L/100km) you are usually looking at a large SUV or a full-size truck.
Good MPG by type of vehicle
These are rough rules of thumb for good real-world results, not official ratings.
| Vehicle | Good everyday MPG (US) | L/100km |
|---|---|---|
| Small car or hatchback | 35 to 40 | 6.72 to 5.88 |
| Mid-size sedan | 30 to 35 | 7.84 to 6.72 |
| SUV or crossover | 25 to 30 | 9.41 to 7.84 |
| Pickup truck | 20 to 25 | 11.76 to 9.41 |
| Hybrid | 45 to 55 | 5.23 to 4.28 |
Is 30 MPG good?
Yes, with one caveat about the gallon. 30 US MPG is solid for a petrol car, a little better than average, and comfortably good for an SUV. But 30 UK (imperial) MPG is only about 25 US MPG, because the imperial gallon is roughly 20% bigger. If a UK figure of 30 MPG sounds disappointing, that is why: it works out at 9.42 L/100km. Always check which gallon a figure uses.
How to check your own MPG
Your own tank-to-tank number beats any rule of thumb, because it reflects your roads, speed and load. Fill up, reset the trip meter, drive, refill, then enter the miles and gallons into the MPG calculator. If you are well under the official rating, tyre pressure, short trips and heavy braking are the usual suspects.
Common questions
What is considered good MPG for a car?
For most petrol cars, 30 MPG or better in US terms is good, and 40 or more is excellent. Judge it against the vehicle type: a pickup at 22 MPG is doing well, while a small hatchback at 22 would be thirsty.
What MPG is bad?
Below about 20 US MPG (above roughly 11.8 L/100km) is on the thirsty side for anything smaller than a large SUV or truck. A sudden drop in your own figure matters more than the absolute number, because it usually points to a fault or a change in how you drive.
Is a higher MPG always better?
A higher MPG means less fuel per mile, so yes, as long as you compare like with like: the same gallon, a similar vehicle class and similar conditions. Running cost also depends on the fuel price, so it is worth checking cost per mile as well.
How do I convert MPG to L/100km?
Divide 235.215 by a US MPG figure, or 282.481 by an imperial one. The MPG to L/100km converter does it instantly and shows a table of common values.