Fuel Saving & Economy
MPG
How many miles per gallon should my car do?
CheckFuelPrices Editorial
Expert Written • 4 industry sources
Most UK cars return between 30 and 50 MPG in real-world driving, though official figures can be higher. Your actual MPG depends on your engine size, fuel type, driving style, and road conditions.
Typical MPG by Vehicle Type
Small petrol cars (e.g. Ford Fiesta, VW Polo):
Compact petrol cars typically achieve 40–55 MPG in mixed real-world driving. Manufacturer official figures under WLTP testing are often higher.
2
Family diesel cars (e.g. Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra):
Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient at motorway speeds, with many mid-size diesels returning 45–65 MPG on longer journeys.
2
SUVs and 4x4s:
Larger, heavier SUVs typically return 25–40 MPG due to their weight and aerodynamic drag. Diesel SUV variants usually outperform their petrol equivalents.
2
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV):
Full hybrids can exceed 60 MPG in urban driving, while PHEVs can return very high official figures that depend heavily on how often they are charged.
2
Why Real-World MPG Differs from Official Figures
WLTP vs reality:
Manufacturers publish MPG under the WLTP test cycle, which is lab-based. Real-world figures are typically 10–20% lower due to traffic, weather, and load.
3
Short journeys hurt efficiency:
Cold engines burn significantly more fuel per mile. Frequent short trips of under 5 miles can reduce your effective MPG by a third compared to longer runs.
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Speed is a major factor:
Fuel consumption rises sharply above 60 mph. Driving at 70 mph uses up to 25% more fuel than driving at 50 mph.
4
How to Improve Your MPG
Smooth acceleration and braking:
Anticipating the road ahead and avoiding harsh acceleration or heavy braking can improve fuel economy by up to 30%, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
4
Check tyre pressures regularly:
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and can reduce MPG by up to 3%. Check pressures monthly against the manufacturer's recommendation.
3
Remove unnecessary weight and roof racks:
Every extra 50 kg reduces fuel efficiency by roughly 2%. Removing a roof rack when not in use also reduces aerodynamic drag significantly.
3
How Fuel Price Affects Your Running Costs
MPG and pump price together determine cost per mile:
A car doing 40 MPG costs roughly 18p per mile at 160p per litre, whereas a 55 MPG car drops that to around 13p per mile — a meaningful saving on annual mileage.
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Find the cheapest fuel near you:
Even a 5p per litre saving adds up to £3–4 per tank. CheckFuelPrices shows live petrol and diesel prices at over 4,000 UK stations updated every 30 minutes.
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Sources
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