Mileage is the number of miles a vehicle can travel on a certain amount of fuel. This is usually expressed in miles per gallon (MPG) or kilometers per liter (KPL) depending on the country’s standard unit of measurement. Mileage in vehicles measures a vehicle’s fuel efficiency and tells how far it can go on a single unit of fuel.
Higher mileage means the vehicle can travel farther on a specific amount of fuel, generally considered more fuel-efficient and cost-effective. On the other hand, lower mileage indicates that the car consumes more fuel to cover the same distance, which is less fuel-efficient and can be more expensive to operate.
Mileage varies between different types of vehicles, with factors such as engine size, weight, and driving conditions all influencing a vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Types Of Mileage
The official mileage ratings provided by automobile manufacturers are usually idealized so they may not reflect real-world driving conditions. This is because mileage is affected by many factors such as driving habits, road conditions, weather, and car maintenance. The two types of mileage you must know about are:
City Mileage: This is the mileage a car gets when it’s being driven in a city. It usually involves stop-and-go traffic, lower speeds, and more idling. City mileage is lower than highway mileage.
Highway Mileage: This is the mileage a car gets from being driven on the highway at higher and more consistent speeds. It is usually higher than the city mileage.
How To Understand and Calculate A Car’s Mileage
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Check the Vehicle Information
You can find the official mileage rating for a car in the owner’s manual, on the window sticker of a new car, or by searching online on reputable websites that provide vehicle specifications.
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Calculate Mileage Yourself
Fill the car’s fuel tank completely then reset the trip odometer or note down the current mileage. Drive the car until the fuel tank is nearly empty or until you plan to refuel. Fill the tank again and note how many liters of fuel you added. Calculate the mileage using the formula:
Mileage (L/100km) = (100 * Liters of Fuel Used) / Kilometers Driven
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Compare to Manufacturer’s Ratings
Compare your real-world mileage with the manufacturer’s official ratings to see if your car performs as expected.
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Improve Mileage
If you want to improve your car’s mileage, consider adopting fuel-efficient driving habits, maintaining your vehicle regularly, keeping tires properly inflated, and avoiding unnecessary driving.
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Consider Alternative Fuel Types
If fuel efficiency is a top priority, you might also want to consider hybrid or electric vehicles, which could have significantly better mileage than petrol-powered cars.
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Track Your Mileage
It’s good to keep a record of your car’s mileage over time. This way, you can spot significant changes in fuel efficiency quickly, which might indicate a need for maintenance or other issues.
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