Distance vs. Volume
Fuel economy is one of the only physical measurements in daily life that suffers from an inverse relationship between the US and the rest of the world.
Distance per Unit Volume (Efficiency)
- Miles per Gallon (mpg): Used in the US and UK (note: US and UK gallons are different!). Higher numbers mean a more efficient car.
- Kilometers per Liter (km/L): Used in Japan, South America, and parts of Asia. Higher numbers mean better efficiency.
Volume per Unit Distance (Consumption)
- Liters per 100km (L/100km): Used everywhere the metric system is standard. Lower numbers mean a more efficient car.
The Inverse Maths
To convert from US MPG to L/100km, you cannot simply multiply. The formula is:
L/100km = 235.215 / MPG
Our Global Unit Converter handles this inverse mathematical relationship perfectly automatically. When you type in a larger MPG, the resulting L/100km will decrease.