Fuel Consumption Calculator
Calculate your trip fuel cost or work out your car's actual L/100km from a fill-up. Fuel price: R25.58/litre (95 ULP inland, 5 August 2026).
✓ Fact-checkedUpdated 5 August 2026Sources: DMRE fuel price announcement·Manufacturer WLTP specs
Key takeaways
- ✓Current 95 ULP inland petrol price is R25.58/litre (5 August 2026, DMRE).
- ✓A typical SA petrol hatchback uses 7.5–9 L/100km. SUVs and bakkies use 10–13 L/100km.
- ✓Use the fill-up method for your actual consumption — fill to the brim, drive, fill again, divide litres by km.
- ✓City-only driving is typically 20–40% worse than manufacturer specs due to altitude, AC, and stop-start traffic.
Pick from common SA vehicles:
Fuel cost
R 204,64
for 100 km
Litres used
8.0 L
Cost per km
R2.05
Fuel consumption benchmarks — SA vehicles 2026
Manufacturer combined-cycle figures for popular SA models. Real-world consumption is typically 10–25% higher.
| Vehicle | L/100km | Cost / 100km | Cost / km |
|---|---|---|---|
| City hatchback (e.g. VW Polo) | 7.5 | R191.85 | R1.92 |
| Sedan (e.g. Toyota Corolla) | 7.8 | R199.52 | R2.00 |
| Compact SUV (e.g. Haval Jolion) | 8.2 | R209.76 | R2.10 |
| Mid SUV (e.g. Toyota Fortuner 4×4) | 11.5 | R294.17 | R2.94 |
| Bakkie (e.g. Toyota Hilux 4×4) | 10.5 | R268.59 | R2.69 |
| Diesel sedan (e.g. VW Passat TDI) | 5.8 | R148.36 | R1.48 |
| Hybrid (e.g. Toyota Corolla Cross HEV) | 5.1 | R130.46 | R1.30 |
Tips to reduce fuel consumption in South Africa
✓ Keep tyres at the correct pressure
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance by 0.2–0.6% per 10kPa under-pressure. Check monthly — SA temperature swings cause significant pressure changes.
✓ Drive at 100–110 km/h on the highway
Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed. Driving at 120 km/h instead of 100 km/h increases fuel consumption by roughly 20%. On long SA highway trips (Jo'burg–Cape Town), this difference is significant.
✓ Avoid idling and engine warm-up
Modern fuel-injected engines do not need to idle and warm up — drive gently for the first few km instead. Idling uses 0.5–1 L/hour for nothing.
✓ Use air conditioning sparingly
AC increases fuel consumption by 10–15% in city driving. At highway speeds the drag from an open window is often worse than running AC — use AC above 80 km/h.
✓ Consider a hybrid for heavy city driving
Hybrids like the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV use 5.1 L/100km vs 8+ L for a comparable petrol car, due to energy recovery under braking — a direct benefit for stop-start Gauteng and Cape Town traffic.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good fuel consumption rate for a car in South Africa?
For a petrol hatchback in combined driving, 7–9 L/100km is typical. A diesel or hybrid should be under 6 L/100km. Full-size petrol SUVs and bakkies typically use 10–13 L/100km. City driving is always worse than the manufacturer's combined-cycle figure due to stop-start traffic.
How do I calculate litres per 100km accurately?
The fill-up method is most accurate: fill your tank to the brim, reset your trip meter, drive your normal routes, then fill to the brim again. Divide litres added by km driven, then multiply by 100. Repeat over 2–3 fill-ups for a reliable average — single fill-up figures can vary by 5–10%.
What is the fuel price in South Africa right now?
The inland 95 ULP petrol price is R25.58/litre, effective 5 August 2026 (DMRE announcement). This calculator uses the current official price. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMRE) adjusts fuel prices on the first Wednesday of each month based on Brent crude oil prices and the rand/dollar exchange rate.
How much does a 100km trip cost in South Africa?
At R25.58/litre, a 100km trip costs approximately R204.64 in an average petrol car (8 L/100km), R268.59 in a petrol SUV (10.5 L/100km), and R148.36 in a diesel sedan (5.8 L/100km). Use this calculator to enter your vehicle's exact figure.
Why is my actual consumption worse than the manufacturer's figure?
Manufacturer figures use standardised lab test cycles (WLTP or NEDC), which don't reflect real-world SA conditions — Johannesburg altitude (1,700m), traffic, air conditioning use, and driving style all increase consumption. City-only driving is typically 20–40% worse than the combined-cycle spec.
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