NRCan Fuel Economy Ratings — How to Read L/100km for Any Vehicle

L/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) is the standard fuel economy measurement used in Canada. Unlike the American MPG (miles per gallon) system, a lower L/100km number means better fuel economy. A vehicle rated at 6.5 L/100km uses less fuel than one rated at 9.0 L/100km. NRCan doesn't actually drive vehicles on roads to determine these ratings. Instead, they use standardized laboratory dynamometer tests that simulate real-world driving conditions. Two test cycles are used: The city test simulates stop-and-go urban driving — frequent acceleration, braking, and idling. It runs for about 31 minutes over a simulated 17.8 km at an average speed of 34 km/h. City ratings are always higher (worse) than highway ratings because stop-and-go driving uses more fuel. The highway test simulates steady-speed highway driving with minimal stops. It runs for about 12.5 minutes over a simulated 16.5 km at an average speed of 78 km/h. Highway ratings are lower (better) because steady-speed driving is more fuel-efficient. The combined rating is a weighted average: 55% city + 45% highway. This is the single most useful number for comparing vehicles, as most Canadian drivers do a mix of both. An important caveat: NRCan ratings are derived from lab tests under controlled conditions (20°C temperature, no wind, flat surface, no accessories running). Your real-world fuel consumption will almost always be higher — typically 10–20% higher in summer and 20–35% higher in Canadian winter conditions. Cold temperatures, winter tires, cabin heating, and snow all increase fuel consumption significantly.

Knowing your vehicle's L/100km rating lets you calculate exactly how much you'll spend on fuel each year. Here's the simple formula: Annual Fuel Cost = (L/100km × Annual KM ÷ 100) × Gas Price per Liter Example: 2022 Toyota RAV4 (8.0 L/100km combined), driving 20,000 km/year in Quebec at $1.65/L: Annual cost = (8.0 × 20,000 ÷ 100) × $1.65 = 1,600 L × $1.65 = $2,640/year. Compare that to a 2022 Ford F-150 (12.5 L/100km combined): Annual cost = (12.5 × 20,000 ÷ 100) × $1.65 = 2,500 L × $1.65 = $4,125/year. That's $1,485 more per year — or $7,425 over 5 years — just in fuel. For winter adjustment, multiply the combined rating by 1.25 for a more realistic year-round estimate: RAV4 at 10.0 L/100km real-world = $3,300/year. F-150 at 15.6 L/100km real-world = $5,148/year. The free CARDAPS Fuel Economy tool does this calculation automatically for any vehicle. Enter a make/model/year and see the NRCan rating plus annual cost at your provincial gas price — with a province selector for accurate local pricing.