What is a Good MPG for new and used vehicles in the UK? Average MPG Explained

Most drivers in the UK prefer Miles Per Gallon (MPG) for determining the economical aspect of driving. You also need to understand the concept of gas mileage to make decisions about your car’s fuel efficiency and usage. So many factors are involved in rating an MPG as a good MPG.

In this blog, you can find which figures can be defined as a Good MPG and how we can compare them to the average MPG. Additionally, I have explained how you can calculate it to reduce fuel consumption and journey costs.

What is a Good MPG for vehicles in the UK?

According to the data published in a survey, anything above 50 MPG  stands as a good MPG in the United Kingdom. Usually smaller, well-maintained cars can achieve this level of efficiency. If you want to reduce petrol/diesel costs, you should purchase vehicles with good fuel economy. Always drive while keeping fuel efficiency in mind. 

On the other hand, a bad MPG can be referred to as below 30 MPG. Cars with larger sizes and cars that are above 10 years old are also poorly maintained and they fall into the bad MPG cars category.  These cars cause higher fuel consumption and the overall journey cost is higher. 

What is a Good vs. Bad MPG?

MPG Range	Efficiency rating
Above 50 MPG	Good MPG rating
MPG between 30 and 50	Average MPG rating
MPG below 30	Bad MPG rating

What is the Average MPG for a Car?

The cars with average MPG fall between good MPG cars and bad MPG cars in the UK. For petrol or diesel vehicles, 30 to 50 mpg can be called an average mpg range. In recent times with a growing population, many drivers who have adopted hybrid or electric vehicles are seeing mpg rates well above the average.

In the UK, most drivers who are purchasing cars with average MPG can help balance fuel usage and keep overall fuel consumption in check.

Understanding WLTP and its function

WLTP is the abbreviation of the worldwide harmonised light vehicle test procedure. It was introduced in 2017 under the guidelines of EU law. This is a laboratory test used to measure fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and pollutant emissions based on real-time data. It is an advanced form of the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) which is based on theoretical data. 

 The WLTP works in a controlled laboratory environment and consists of a series of driving cycles: cold start phase and driving phase. In the cold start phase, emissions are measured when a vehicle stays in a cold state. Four distinct phases are examined in the driving phase to assess the vehicle’s performance at maximum speed. The following table shows the table cycle.

Phase	Max speed	Average speed	Duration
Low	30	20	10
Medium	40	30	8
High	50	40	6
Extra high	60	50	5

What Impacts MPG in the UK in 2024?

• Driving Habits: Driving habits are determining factors in a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Rash driving, aggressive dragging, and hard braking have a negative impact on a car’s MPG. if you keep your speed uniform throughout your journey, you can improve your car’s MPG by 30%. So, drivers must include gradual speeding and thoughtful braking in their driving habits.
• Vehicle Maintenance: Regular vehicle maintenance is essential to optimize a car’s mileage. Tire inflation and tire pressure help improve fuel economy by 3%. Keeping the car engine fine-tuned will help obtain better MPG.
• Weather Conditions: Cold weather can reduce gas mileage as engines take longer to reach optimal temperatures. As a result, MPG decreases. Besides the cold weather, the hot weather also hurts MPG. In hot weather, the use of air conditioning increases, leading to the decree in MPG.
• Traffic Conditions: When you drive on a congested road, frequent stops and traffic lights negatively impact MPG. So, planning an alternate route will be effective to avoid such circumstances.

Relationship Between fuel price and MPG in the UK

It’s also worth considering the rising costs of fuel in the UK. Keeping an eye on diesel/petrol costs and adjusting your driving habits accordingly can result in significant MPG savings. For more details on price trends on the UK’s government website.

Final Words

Knowing all the metrics and accurate mathematical calculations for a good MPG In the UK perspective can save your overall fuel consumption. As far as my vast experience in the field of reducing fuel consumption of petrol or diesel cars, I have designed various converters complying with standard parameters.  These converters include an mpg calculator, a fuel cost calculator, and a litre-to-gallon converter to help drivers who want to save money on short and longer rides. Now you can track the efficiency of your car while maintaining a good fuel efficiency to attain a good to average mpg.