What is combined MPG?

Combined MPG is a single fuel economy figure that averages a car's efficiency across a mix of driving conditions — typically urban, extra-urban, and higher-speed driving — rather than reflecting just one type of journey.

How it's built up:

• Official fuel economy testing (WLTP in the UK/EU) measures MPG across several distinct driving phases, from low-speed stop-start conditions to higher-speed motorway-style driving
• The combined figure is a weighted average across all of these phases, intended to give a general reference point rather than a prediction for any single type of journey
• Manufacturers also usually publish the individual phase figures separately (such as low, medium, high, and extra-high), which can be more useful if your driving is heavily weighted toward one type of use, like mostly city driving or mostly motorway commuting

Why it's a starting point, not a guarantee:

Combined MPG is useful for comparing cars on a like-for-like basis, but real-world fuel economy depends heavily on your actual driving style, routes, load, and conditions — which is why the figure you see quoted rarely matches exactly what you'll get day to day. It's best treated as a consistent benchmark for comparison between models, rather than an exact prediction of your running costs.