How Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator Works?
This tool works by pricing the yearly fuel of the least efficient and the most efficient vehicle on your list at $3.60 per gallon, then reporting the spread. The spread is the most you can save by picking the best vehicle.
Enter the lowest MPG
Type the miles per gallon (MPG) of the least efficient vehicle on your shortlist, for example an 18 MPG truck.
Enter the highest MPG
Type the MPG of the most efficient vehicle, for example a 52 MPG hybrid.
Enter annual miles
Type the yearly miles, for example 12,000 miles (19,312 km).
Read the cost spread
The tool shows the fuel cost gap between the 2 ends of the list.
Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator Formula
The formula is Spread = ((Miles ÷ Lowest MPG) − (Miles ÷ Highest MPG)) × $3.60.
Spread = ((Miles ÷ Lowest MPG) − (Miles ÷ Highest MPG)) × $3.60Formula variables
- Miles ÷ Lowest MPG
- Gallons for the least efficient vehicle.
- Miles ÷ Highest MPG
- Gallons for the most efficient vehicle.
- $3.60
- Fixed fuel price per US gallon (3.785 L).
Worked example
- Lowest MPG (e.g. Truck: 18): 18 MPG
- Highest MPG (e.g. Hybrid: 52): 52 MPG
- Annual Miles: 12,000 miles
- Lowest MPG: 12,000 ÷ 18 = 666.67 gallons.
- Highest MPG: 12,000 ÷ 52 = 230.77 gallons.
- Spread: (666.67 − 230.77) × $3.60 = 435.90 × $3.60 = $1,569.23.
Result: $1,569.23 ($ spread)
Vehicles in the middle of the list fall inside the spread. A 30 MPG sedan on the same 12,000 miles costs $1,440 per year, between the truck's $2,400 and the hybrid's $830.77.
Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator Conversion Table
The table shows the yearly cost spread for 3 low-MPG vehicles against 4 high-MPG vehicles on 12,000 miles.
Rows: Lowest MPG (e.g. Truck: 18) (MPG). Columns: Highest MPG (e.g. Hybrid: 52) (MPG). Cells: $ spread.
| MPG | 35 MPG | 45 MPG | 52 MPG | 60 MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 MPG | $1,851.43 | $2,125.71 | $2,254.95 | $2,365.71 |
| 18 MPG | $1,165.71 | $1,440.00 | $1,569.23 | $1,680.00 |
| 22 MPG | $729.35 | $1,003.64 | $1,132.87 | $1,243.64 |
Values held constant: Annual Miles = 12,000 miles.
A shortlist running from a 14 MPG van to a 60 MPG plug-in hybrid spans $2,365.71 per year in fuel cost.
What is Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator?
The Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator is a tool that measures the fuel cost range across a shortlist of vehicles. The tool shows the upper limit of what a vehicle choice saves.
Shoppers often consider 3 to 5 vehicles across different classes. The comparator brackets the shortlist by its least and most efficient models.
A large spread means vehicle choice has a big effect on running costs. A small spread means other factors, such as price or reliability, matter more.
What are the uses of Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator?
There are 4 main uses of the Multiple-Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparator: narrowing a car shortlist, choosing fleet vehicle classes, comparing rental classes, and showing households the cost of vehicle type.
Narrowing a car shortlist
Buyers see whether fuel cost differences justify dropping a model.
Choosing fleet vehicle classes
Fleet managers price the gap between trucks and hybrids.
Comparing rental classes
Travelers compare economy, midsize, and SUV rentals for a long trip.
Showing households the cost of vehicle type
Families see the yearly price of choosing a truck over a hybrid.
Need every metric in one place? Open the main MPG Cost Calculator or browse all 101 fuel calculators.