What does vehicle fuel consumption mean?

[AliviaLynn]

Vehicle fuel consumption refers to the amount of fuel consumed per 100 kilometers driven at a certain speed, which is a theoretical indicator of the vehicle. The fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is a value measured by the manufacturer under objective conditions using a dynamometer installed on the vehicle chassis, converted into speed parameters, and then calculated as the theoretical experimental fuel consumption data for the vehicle model when driven at specified speeds. Fuel consumption includes constant-speed fuel consumption and road cycle fuel consumption. Constant-speed fuel consumption refers to the fuel economy indicator when the vehicle is driven at a constant speed on good road surfaces, while road cycle fuel consumption is the fuel economy indicator measured when the vehicle is driven on roads according to specified speed and time specifications in repeated cycles, also known as multi-condition road cycle fuel consumption.

[JordanLynn]

Vehicle fuel consumption can be simply understood as how many liters of gasoline or diesel your car uses to travel 100 kilometers. When I commute to work in the city, the fuel consumption is higher during traffic jams, often exceeding 10L/100km, but it can drop to around 7L when driving on the highway. This number helps me estimate the cost of maintaining the car. For example, when fuel prices rise, a car with high fuel consumption can cost several hundred yuan more per month in fuel expenses. Additionally, if I suddenly notice that the fuel consumption is higher than usual, it might indicate a problem with the car, such as old spark plugs or insufficient tire pressure, and it's important to get it checked promptly. I also refer to the official fuel consumption data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for different car models. Although the actual driving experience may differ, it serves as a useful reference when purchasing a car.

[RhettMarie]

Fuel consumption refers to the amount of fuel a car consumes per 100 kilometers traveled, which directly impacts my wallet. I've done the math carefully: assuming a car with an average fuel consumption of 8L/100km and driving 20,000 kilometers a year on 95-octane gasoline, the fuel cost alone would exceed 10,000 yuan. If I buy a smaller displacement car with 6L/100km fuel consumption, I could save thousands of yuan a year. Moreover, I always record fuel consumption when refueling and noticed that aggressive acceleration or speeding on highways causes a rapid spike in fuel consumption. Recently, I've also been paying attention to new energy vehicles, such as plug-in hybrids, which have different fuel consumption calculation methods, requiring consideration of comprehensive energy consumption. In short, fuel consumption is a practical indicator, and understanding it can help avoid being misled by car dealers' marketing.

[McGabrielle]

Fuel consumption literally means how much fuel a car burns per 100 kilometers, but it reflects engine efficiency. I've thought about it—it's like how people eat. A good engine with advanced technology consumes less fuel while delivering more power. For example, direct injection technology allows gasoline to burn more cleanly, and turbocharging enables small-displacement engines to do more with less. During test drives, I noticed that cars with the same displacement but different tuning can have significantly different fuel consumption, where transmission matching plays a crucial role. In city driving, the auto start-stop feature can save fuel, but frequent starts might damage the battery. Additionally, winter heating doesn't consume much fuel, whereas air conditioning cooling is the real fuel guzzler. When buying a car, don't just rely on the official fuel economy data—real-world driving conditions have a bigger impact.