Fuel consumption: compact

    Same car, same road - 6 L/100km in summer, 9 in winter. Track your real fuel consumption from fill-up data. Enter liters and kilometers, get L/100km, US MPG, UK MPG and a rating for your vehicle type.

    This page opens with compact already chosen, so nothing has to be hunted for in the list. A figure in liters means nothing until it sits next to the range for that class of car, which is what turns a number into a verdict. This page opens the calculator with compact already selected, so only the remaining fields are left to fill in. The remaining fields are yours to fill in, and the result follows once you press calculate.

    Parameters

    Enter data for calculations

    Enter the amount of fuel added at the pump in liters. Fill to the nozzle click for a consistent measurement.

    Enter the distance driven since the last full tank. Use the trip meter or subtract odometer readings.

    Optionally choose your vehicle type - the calculator will rate your consumption against typical figures.

    Form progress0 / 2 fields

    💡 Fill in all required fields to unlock the calculate button

    Same car, same road - 6 L/100km in summer, 9 in winter

    Your car's official WLTP figure says 5.8 L/100km. Real life disagrees. Cold starts, air conditioning, roof boxes, tire pressure and driving style can push real consumption 30-50% higher than the lab number. This calculator works from your actual fill-up data - liters in, kilometers driven, honest result.

    How to measure fuel consumption - step by step

    1. Fuel added (liters) - fill up to the nozzle click at the pump. Write down the exact number of liters. Always fill to the same point for consistency.
    2. Distance driven (km) - enter the kilometers since the last full fill-up. Use the trip meter or subtract odometer readings. Minimum 300 km for a reliable average.
    3. Vehicle type - optionally select your car category. The calculator will rate your consumption as efficient, average or high compared to typical values for that class.
    4. Read the results - you get L/100km, US MPG, UK MPG, km/L and a color-coded rating.

    Four key numbers at a glance

    30-50%

    Gap between WLTP lab figures and real-world consumption

    25%

    Extra fuel burned at 85 mph vs 70 mph due to air resistance

    0.6 psi

    Tire pressure drop per month - each 1 psi low adds 0.2% to consumption

    15%

    Extra consumption from running AC at full blast in city traffic

    Consumption benchmarks by vehicle type

    Vehicle type Efficient Average High US MPG equiv.
    City car < 5.5 5.5-7.0 > 7.0 34-43
    Compact < 6.5 6.5-8.0 > 8.0 29-36
    Sedan/Estate < 7.0 7.0-9.0 > 9.0 26-34
    Compact SUV < 8.0 8.0-10.0 > 10.0 24-29
    Large SUV < 10.0 10.0-13.0 > 13.0 18-24
    Hybrid < 5.0 5.0-6.0 > 6.0 39-47
    Sports car < 11.0 11.0-16.0 > 16.0 15-21

    Did you know?

    Cold engine penalty: The first 5 km after a cold start burn 40-80% more fuel than a warm engine. Short city trips are the worst case for fuel economy.
    Roof box drag: An empty roof box adds 0.5-1.0 L/100km at highway speeds. Remove it when not in use - aerodynamic drag scales with the square of speed.
    MPG confusion: US gallon = 3.785 L, UK gallon = 4.546 L. A car rated 30 MPG (US) is 36 MPG (UK). Always check which gallon the spec uses.
    Weight matters: Every extra 100 kg of cargo adds roughly 0.3-0.5 L/100km. Clean out the trunk before a long trip.
    Diesel vs petrol: Diesel engines are typically 15-25% more efficient in L/100km, but diesel fuel contains 13% more energy per liter. The real CO2 difference is smaller than the consumption gap suggests.

    Practical examples

    Daily commute (compact): 38 liters used over 520 km of mixed city/highway driving.
    Result: 7.31 L/100km (32.2 MPG US) - average for a compact car.
    Highway road trip (sedan): 42 liters over 680 km of steady motorway cruising.
    Result: 6.18 L/100km (38.1 MPG US) - very efficient for a 2.0L sedan on the highway.
    Winter city driving (SUV): 55 liters over 420 km with cold starts and short trips.
    Result: 13.10 L/100km (18.0 MPG US) - high for a compact SUV. Winter penalty + city driving.
    Hybrid in city traffic: 28 liters over 620 km of stop-and-go commuting.
    Result: 4.52 L/100km (52.1 MPG US) - hybrids shine in exactly this scenario.
    Sports car, spirited driving: 65 liters over 380 km of back roads and overtaking.
    Result: 17.11 L/100km (13.8 MPG US) - expected for a sports car driven enthusiastically.

    Unit conversion reference

    L/100km MPG (US) MPG (UK) km/L
    5.0 47.0 56.5 20.0
    7.0 33.6 40.4 14.3
    9.0 26.1 31.4 11.1
    12.0 19.6 23.5 8.3

    FAQ - Frequently asked questions

    How do I convert L/100km to MPG?
    Divide 235.214 by your L/100km figure for US MPG, or 282.481 for UK MPG. Example: 8 L/100km = 235.214 / 8 = 29.4 MPG (US). The calculator does this automatically.
    Why is my real consumption higher than the official WLTP figure?
    WLTP tests run in a controlled lab at 23 degrees C, with no AC, no wind, no payload, and a standardized driving cycle. Real conditions add cold starts, elevation changes, traffic, weather and personal driving style. A 30-50% gap is typical, and some cars deviate even more.
    How accurate is the fill-up method?
    Very accurate if done consistently. Always fill to the same point (nozzle auto-click), measure over at least 300 km, and avoid measuring after a single city-only or highway-only tank. Three consecutive fill-ups averaged together give a reliable baseline.
    What is the difference between US and UK MPG?
    A US gallon is 3.785 liters; a UK (imperial) gallon is 4.546 liters. The UK gallon is about 20% larger. So the same car shows 30 MPG (US) = 36 MPG (UK). Always check which gallon a specification uses before comparing.
    Does driving faster always use more fuel?
    Yes, above about 50-60 km/h. Aerodynamic drag rises with the square of speed - doubling your speed quadruples air resistance. Going from 110 to 140 km/h can increase consumption by 20-30%. The sweet spot for most cars is between 80-100 km/h in the highest gear.
    Can I use this calculator for diesel and hybrid cars?
    Yes. The formula L/100km = (liters / km) x 100 works the same regardless of fuel type. Select the matching vehicle type for an appropriate consumption rating. For plug-in hybrids, the result reflects the fuel portion only - electric energy consumed is not included.

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    See also

    Fuel Consumption for a city - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a sedan - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a suv-compact - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a suv-large - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a hybrid - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a diesel - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a sport - Per 100 km and MPGFuel Consumption for a van - Per 100 km and MPG

    Calculator verified by the LiczGrupa.pl team

    Content, formulas and results have been reviewed for accuracy and relevance by our team of specialists.

    Patryk Matyjasik

    Reviewed by: Patryk Matyjasik

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