Multiply gallons by miles per gallon. A 15-gallon tank in a car that gets 30 MPG works out to 450 miles. Half a tank is about 225.
Our range calculator does the arithmetic, and every year page already shows city and highway range for each trim, based on its EPA rating.
Which MPG to use
Highway MPG fits long, steady drives. City MPG fits stop-and-go commuting. Most people's driving falls somewhere in between, which is why the EPA also publishes a combined figure. If you've tracked your own mileage with the MPG calculator, use that instead. It beats any sticker number.
Why real range comes up short
- Nobody drives to the last drop. The reserve left when the light comes on is range you won't use.
- Cold mornings, short trips, idling, roof boxes, towing and speeds above 70 all cost mileage.
- A car that's due for maintenance, or running underinflated tires, gives up a few MPG.
Plan road-trip fuel stops at around three-quarters of the estimated range, and earlier on empty stretches of highway.
