Fuel Cost Calculator Australia 2025 | Car Running Costs | IntuitiveCalc
Calculate how much you spend on fuel for your daily commute, road trips, or annual driving. Compare running costs between different vehicles to make smarter choices.
Vehicle Type
Distance & Fuel
Daily Cost
$7.40
4.0L of fuel for 50km
Running Costs
Cost per km
14.8c/km
Daily
$7.40
Weekly
$51.94
Monthly
$225.08
Annual Summary
Environmental Impact
Annual CO2 emissions: 3.4 tonnes
Based on 1460L of fuel at 2.31kg CO2/L
Annual Fuel Cost Comparison
Your vehicle is highlighted in blue
Vehicle Comparison (Based on your distance)
| Vehicle Type | L/100km | Annual Cost | vs Your Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Car | 6.5 | $2,194.56 | -$506.44 |
| Medium CarYour car | 8 | $2,701.00 | - |
| Large Car | 10 | $3,376.25 | +$675.25 |
| Small SUV | 8.5 | $2,869.81 | +$168.81 |
| Medium SUV | 10.5 | $3,545.06 | +$844.06 |
| Large SUV | 12.5 | $4,220.31 | +$1,519.31 |
| Ute/Pickup | 11 | $3,713.88 | +$1,012.88 |
| Van | 12 | $4,051.50 | +$1,350.50 |
| Hybrid | 4.5 | $1,519.31 | -$1,181.69 |
| Plug-in Hybrid | 2 | $675.25 | -$2,025.75 |
Understanding Fuel Consumption
In Australia, fuel consumption is measured in litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km). Lower numbers mean better fuel efficiency. A car using 6 L/100km is more efficient than one using 12 L/100km.
Excellent
Under 6 L/100km
Hybrids, small efficient cars
Average
6-10 L/100km
Most sedans and small SUVs
High
Over 10 L/100km
Large SUVs, utes, V8s
Fuel Consumption by Vehicle Type
| Vehicle Type | L/100km | Examples | Cost/100km* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hatch | 5.5-7 | Yaris, Mazda 2, i20 | $10-13 |
| Medium Sedan | 7-9 | Corolla, Mazda 3, Civic | $13-17 |
| Large Sedan | 8-11 | Camry, Accord, Sonata | $15-20 |
| Small SUV | 7-9 | CX-3, Kona, ASX | $13-17 |
| Medium SUV | 8-11 | RAV4, CX-5, X-Trail | $15-20 |
| Large SUV | 11-14 | Prado, Patrol, Explorer | $20-26 |
| Ute | 9-12 | HiLux, Ranger, D-Max | $17-22 |
| Hybrid | 4-5 | Prius, Camry Hybrid | $7-9 |
*Based on $1.85/L fuel price
Tips to Reduce Fuel Costs
Driving Habits
- • Maintain steady speed, use cruise control
- • Accelerate and brake smoothly
- • Don't idle for extended periods
- • Avoid high speeds (fuel use increases exponentially)
Vehicle Maintenance
- • Keep tyres properly inflated
- • Regular servicing and oil changes
- • Replace air filters as needed
- • Remove roof racks when not in use
Fuel Buying
- • Use apps like Petrol Spy to find cheap fuel
- • Fill up on Tuesdays (often cheapest)
- • Use shopper dockets (4c/L off)
- • Consider Costco membership for fuel savings
Planning
- • Combine trips and errands
- • Carpool or use public transport
- • Consider working from home
- • Plan routes to avoid traffic
Electric vs Petrol Running Costs
Electric vehicles cost significantly less to "fuel" than petrol cars:
Petrol Car (8 L/100km)
~$15/100km
At $1.85/L fuel price
Electric Car (15 kWh/100km)
~$4.50/100km
At $0.30/kWh electricity
Over 15,000km/year, that's $2,250 vs $675 - saving $1,575 annually on fuel alone.
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