Calculate how much fuel you need and what a trip will cost based on distance, fuel efficiency, and gas price.
Divide trip distance by fuel efficiency (MPG), then multiply by fuel price per gallon. Example: 300 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 12 gallons × $3.50 = $42.00.
For metric: multiply distance (km) by consumption rate (L/100km) and divide by 100, then multiply by price per liter. Example: 500 km × 8 L/100km ÷ 100 = 40 liters × $1.50 = $60.00.
Maintain steady speeds (cruise control on highways), keep tires properly inflated, reduce excess weight, and avoid aggressive acceleration.
Driving at 55-65 mph is the most fuel-efficient speed for most vehicles. Every 5 mph above 50 mph costs approximately $0.20 more per gallon. Proper tire pressure alone can improve MPG by 3%. Removing 100 lbs of excess weight improves fuel economy by about 1%.
Fuel economy varies significantly by vehicle type. Use these averages as a starting point if you don't know your vehicle's exact MPG.
Compact Car (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla): 30–35 MPG (6.7–7.8 L/100km). Mid-Size Sedan (Toyota Camry, Honda Accord): 28–32 MPG (7.4–8.4 L/100km). SUV (Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V): 25–30 MPG (7.8–9.4 L/100km). Full-Size SUV (Ford Explorer, Chevy Tahoe): 18–23 MPG (10.2–13.1 L/100km). Pickup Truck (F-150, Ram 1500): 17–22 MPG (10.7–13.8 L/100km). Hybrid (Toyota Prius, Honda Insight): 45–55 MPG (4.3–5.2 L/100km). Electric (Tesla, Nissan Leaf): 100–130 MPGe equivalent. Source: US EPA fuel economy estimates, 2024 model year averages.
Note: Fuel cost estimates are approximations. Actual consumption varies based on driving conditions, traffic, weather, road grade, vehicle condition, and driving style. CO2 estimates use the EPA average of 8.89 kg CO2 per gallon of gasoline.