What Does MPG Mean?

Trying to save money on gas this year? Thinking of buying a new or pre-ownedvehicle off our Tacoma lot? You’ll want to know what a good MPG is before you commit to a purchase. Find out more about what MPG is, good fuel economy ratings, and your recommended level of fuel consumption with the experts at Universal Auto Group below!

What is MPG?

So, what is MPG exactly? MPG, or miles per gallon, is the distance, measured in miles, that a vehicle can travel on a gallon of fuel. If you’re shopping for cars in terms of fuel efficiency, this is the single most important factor. The higher a vehicle’s MPG, the better its fuel economy is.

The EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency, is the government entity that certifies and classifies a vehicle’s MPG ratings. Measuring a vehicle’s MPG can be difficult due to traffic congestion and road conditions affecting fuel consumption. That’s why the EPA runs tests on various different driving courses, averages the scores, and assigns ratings based on three different categories:

• City MPG: The average MPG ratings for urban driving conditions. City drivers typically consume more fuel due to frequent stopping and starting, so that has to be taken into consideration during scoring.
• Highway MPG: The average MPG ratings for driving on highways or long stretches of road. Highway or rural drivers can typically drive for longer periods of time without stopping, so that has to be taken into consideration while scoring.
• Combined MPG: The combined average of highway and city MPG ratings.

How Can I Calculate My Own Vehicle’s MPG?

Not sure what a good MPG is for your own vehicle? Calculating your own MPG is easy. Follow the steps below to determine how many miles per gallon you’re getting and see if’s costing you bucks at the Tacoma fuel pumps:

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

Your combined MPG ratings will generally be the most accurate measurement of your real MPG since many Seattle area drivers spend a lot of time commuting to and from suburban/city environments. This means you’re consuming gas in different driving conditions on a weekly, or even daily basis.

How Can I Reduce My Own Fuel Consumption?

Here at Universal Auto Group, we offer a variety of fuel-efficient models for your Tacoma area drives. Our vehiclesare some of the most eco-friendly models in our inventory. However, gas prices are high and drivers are trying to save on trips to the gas station in any way that they can. That’s why we’ve outlined a few of the best precautions you can take to keep your fuel consumption to an absolute minimum:

• Switch your driving mode to ECO or ECON mode if it’s available to optimize your fuel consumption.
• Use cruise control to maintain a steady speed on WA highways.
• Use the recommended fuel for your vehicle.
• Schedule service appointments on a routine basis as recommended by your manufacturer.
• Plan longer distance journeys in advance to avoid wasting gas backtracking, missing exits, etc.

Find Your Next Fuel-Efficient Commuter at Universal Auto Group!

So, what is a good MPG for a new vehicle? That all depends on your driving frequency, local driving conditions, and gas budget. If you’re interested in exploring our inventory of fuel-efficient models, we encourage you to contact us at Universal Auto Group for help finding the vehicle that’s right for you!