Is 12 liters per 100 kilometers considered high fuel consumption?

[DiDelaney]

Under normal driving habits, 12 liters per 100 kilometers is not considered high if driving exclusively in congested urban areas. The following explains different fuel consumption measurements: 1. Constant-speed fuel consumption: This refers to the fuel economy indicator when a vehicle maintains constant speed on good road surfaces. Since constant-speed driving represents a fundamental operating condition for vehicles on highways, and this measurement is relatively easy to determine, it's widely adopted. For instance, France and Germany use 90Km/h and 120Km/h constant-speed fuel consumption as primary evaluation criteria for fuel economy. 2. Road cycle fuel consumption: Also called multi-condition road cycle fuel consumption, this measures a vehicle's fuel economy when following specified speed and time patterns in repetitive cycle driving on roads.

[AshleyFitz]

Having driven for over a decade, I must say that 12 liters per 100 kilometers really depends on the vehicle's condition. My old SUV consistently achieves this fuel consumption in city driving, and I don't find it particularly excessive. However, if a compact sedan consumes this much fuel, it's worth paying attention to—there might be carbon buildup or an issue with the oxygen sensor. With the recent surge in fuel prices, spending an extra couple hundred bucks monthly on gas is indeed painful. I'd suggest checking if your tire pressure is too low and avoiding overloading the trunk with unnecessary items, as these can secretly increase fuel consumption. Last week, I helped a neighbor who found their air filter completely clogged—replacing it immediately reduced consumption by 1 liter.

[JudeFitz]

12 MPG (miles per gallon) really depends on the reference point. My 2.0T car only consumes 9 MPG on the highway with AC on in summer, but it skyrockets to 14 MPG when driving in snowy conditions during winter. High fuel consumption during the break-in period of a new car is normal, but if a car older than five years suddenly jumps to 12 MPG, it's likely time to replace the spark plugs. The worst scenario is short-distance commuting—my home is just three kilometers from work, and the engine doesn't even warm up properly. In such conditions, any car will guzzle fuel. Keeping fuel system cleaner on hand to remove carbon deposits and changing engine oil regularly can save you a lot of money.

[HeidiRose]

Last year when I was car shopping, I did thorough research on fuel consumption and realized 12L/100km isn't considered fuel-efficient in 2023. Nowadays hybrids only consume 4-5L, while EVs are even cheaper to run. My modified American muscle car still puts a smile on my face at 14L/100km - that V8 roar is worth every penny. But for family cars exceeding 10L/100km, it's time to be concerned, especially CVT-equipped models shouldn't be that thirsty. Pro tip: always tighten your fuel cap properly - learned that the hard way when my gauge dropped rapidly due to this silly mistake.

[LeJudah]

Having worked in a repair shop for eight years, I've seen many owners complaining about high fuel consumption. Twelve liters per 100km is normal for SUVs like the Haval H6, but abnormal for small cars like the Fit. The most easily overlooked issue is a faulty carbon canister purge valve - some drivers keep going even when gasoline fumes are noticeable. Last week, a customer came in complaining about suddenly increased fuel consumption, and we found the brake caliper was stuck, causing the car to drive with brakes engaged. I recommend cleaning the fuel injectors every 5,000 kilometers - don't wait until the warning light comes on to fix it, as that will cost more.

[McHarrison]

As a commuter, I've crunched the numbers: driving 50km daily, 12L/100km costs 500 yuan more per month than 8L/100km. The most wasteful mistake? Using external air circulation instead of internal increases fuel consumption by 20%. Once I rushed in sport mode the whole way - the trip computer showed a terrifying 14.2L/100km. Now I've learned: anticipate red lights to coast early, use engine braking downhill, keeping consumption steadily below 10L. Actually, onboard fuel calculations have errors - the most accurate method is filling up, driving 100km, then calculating.