What Does MPG Mean?

Shoppers from Brattleboro to Swanzey are always looking for a car with great MPG to save money on fuel, but just what does MPG mean anyway? And more importantly, what is “good” MPG for your next car? The team at Keene Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is here to explain what is MPG in plain language, so you can find out what it means for you and how to calculate your MPG with ease. Get more service tips at Keene Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and find your next fuel-efficient car in Keene!

What is MPG?

So, what does MPG mean? MPG stands for “miles per gallon.” It represents the distance that you can travel on a single gallon of fuel. The higher your vehicle’s MPG, the better its fuel economy – and the less you spend on fuel in Walpole. To provide a better understanding of a car’s capability, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies MPG into three different categories:

• City MPG: City MPG shows how much fuel the vehicle will burn in an average urban setting. City drives are notorious for stop-and-go traffic, so this category takes that into consideration.
• Highway MPG: Highway MPG shows how much fuel the vehicle will burn on highways or long stretches of roads. Because highway miles don’t involve much stopping, a vehicle’s highway MPG is generally higher than its city MPG.
• Combined MPG: The combined MPG takes the average of highway and city MPG ratings, so it’s easier to compare one model to another.

How to Calculate Your Car’s Gas Mileage

Whether you’re looking for a new fuel-efficient car or you’re just curious about your own fuel economy, learning how to calculate your car’s gas mileage is a simple process that will give you a good baseline. Follow these steps:

1. Fill your tank completely and reset your trip odometer. 
2. Drive as usual until your gas tank is almost empty.
3. Take your odometer reading (the number of miles you’ve driven since your last refuel). 
4. Divide this number by the total number of gallons it takes to fill your tank with gas.

If you’re comparing this figure to other vehicles on the market, we recommend comparing your own gas mileage with the combined gas mileage ratings. That’s because most drivers do a combination of both city and highway driving, so the combined fuel economy figures will give you the best estimate.

How to Maintain Your Vehicle’s Fuel Efficiency

While buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle is a quick way to boost your efficiency, you can also adapt eco-friendly driving habits to boost your gas mileage today. Here are a few tips from our service center:

• If you have an ECO or ECON driving mode, use it when possible to prioritize fuel conservation.
• When driving on the highways, use cruise control to maintain a steady speed.
• Use the recommended fuel for your vehicle. Check your owner’s manual to see what you need for your make and model.
• Stay on top of your manufacturer-recommended maintenance. This allows your car to work at its peak, which will be at its most efficient.
• Think ahead when planning longer trips, so you can get from point A to point B as smoothly as possible. 

Shop for a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle in Keene 

Still have questions about what is a good MPG or how to get the most out of your car? Contact us at Keene Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to learn more about fuel economy. Whether you want to check out a new model or schedule your next oil change, we’re here to help.