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Shortfalls in mpg occurred in 90 percent of vehicles Consumer Reports tested and included most makes and models.
For years, automakers have been criticized for producing vehicles that get so-so gas mileage. But as gas prices climb and consumers seek more miles per gallon, it turns out that fuel economy is much worse than it appears—50 percent less on some models, a new Consumer Reports analysis reveals.
Drivers who track their own fuel economy have long known that their results seldom match the gas mileage claimed by the Environmental Protection Agency on new-car stickers. Our study, based on years of real-world road tests over thousands of miles, quantifies the problem across a wide swath of makes and models.
We compared the claimed EPA fuel economy with the mileage per gallon we measured for 303 cars and trucks for model-years 2000 to 2006. Our selection represents a good cross-section of mainstream, high-volume vehicles. We looked at city, highway, and overall mpg.
Highlights of our study:
Shortfalls in mpg occurred in 90 percent of vehicles we tested and included most makes and models.
The largest discrepancy between claimed and actual mpg involved city driving. Some models we tested fell short of claimed city mpg by 35 to 50 percent.
Hybrids, whose selling point is fuel thriftiness, had some of the biggest disparities, with fuel economy averaging 19 mpg below the EPA city rating.
The EPA ratings are the result of 1970s-era test assumptions that don't account for how people drive today. Automakers also test prototype vehicles that can yield better mileage than a consumer could get.
Despite federal certification, it appears that U.S. vehicle fleets, all cars and light trucks produced in one model year, don't meet government fuel-economy standards. For example, fleet mpg for 2003-model-year vehicles we studied was overstated by 30 percent.
For consumers, the news means that their vehicles typically cost hundreds more per year to operate than they were led to believe. Put another way, when gas in August 2005 hit $2.37 per gallon, the mpg shortchange effectively boosted the price for some motorists to $3.13 per gallon.
For the nation, where the fleet average fuel economy is near its lowest point in 17 years, the findings suggest that the country is far short of its energy goals.
"We are concerned about the differences," Margo Oge, director of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, said of our study. "I think we can do a better job to help consumers assess actual fuel economy."
Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle
Look for a vehicle that gets good fuel economy for its class. The vehicles listed below have provided the best and worst overall fuel economy within their class in our recent tests, and they are still sold. Some appear in more than one category, if appropriate.
Small cars (automatic transmission)
BEST
Overall MPG
Toyota Prius 44
Honda Civic Hybrid 37
Volkswagen Jetta TDI 34
WORST
Subaru Impreza 2.5i 23
Chevrolet Cobalt 23
Small Cars (manual transmission)
BEST
Honda Insight 51
Scion xB 32
Scion xA 31
WORST
Ford Focus ZX4 ST 26
Chevrolet Aveo LS 27
Suzuki Forenza 27
Family sedans
BEST
Toyota Prius 44
Honda Accord Hybrid (V6) 25
Honda Accord 24
WORST
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited 18
Large sedans
BEST
Toyota Avalon 22
Mercury Montego (FWD) 21
Ford Five Hundred (FWD) 21
WORST
Ford Crown Victoria LX 16
Chrysler 300C 16
Mercury Grand Marquis LSE 16
Small SUVS
BEST
Ford Escape Hybrid (4-cyl.) 26
Mercury Mariner Hybrid (4-cyl.) 26
Toyota Matrix XR (AWD) 24
Pontiac Vibe (AWD) 24
WORST
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. (6-cyl.) 14
Kia Sorento LX 15
Jeep Liberty Sport (V6) 15
Midsized SUVs
BEST
Lexus ** 400h 23
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 22
Toyota Highlander Limited (V6) 19
Nissan Murano SL 19
WORST
Dodge Durango Limited 5.7 (V8) 12
Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT LT 13
GMC Envoy XL SLT 13
Land Rover LR3 SE (V8) 13
Large SUVs
BEST
Toyota Sequoia Limited 15
WORST
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT (5.7) V8 12
Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 12
Pickups (crew cab, 4WD)
BEST
Toyota Tacoma TRD (V6) 17
GMC Canyon SLE (5-cyl.) 16
Chevrolet Colorado LS (5-cyl.) 16
WORST
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT (5.7) 11
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT (4.7) 12
Other ways to save money on auto travel
Be skeptical of EPA ratings. The EPA sticker can help you evaluate relative gas mileage among vehicles, but not absolute mpg. Until the EPA ratings are made more realistic, discount the EPA sticker numbers for city travel as follows: conventional cars and trucks, 30 percent; larger hybrids, 35 percent; diesels, 36 percent; smaller hybrids, 42 percent.
Buy regular. If your car owner's manual doesn't recommend a particular grade of gasoline, fill 'er up with regular. And don't waste money on so-called gas-saving devices; our tests have shown that they don't work.
Walk, bike, or "chain." Fuel economy is worst on short trips. These trips also create the most exhaust emissions and cause the most engine wear. Half of all car trips are under six miles, within walking or biking distance. If you must drive, "chain" several errands into a single trip on a warm engine instead of making separate short trips throughout the day.
Avoid highway drag. At highway speeds, where fuel economy is best, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Try not to add to that drag by carrying things on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack can decrease a car's fuel economy by 5 percent. Even empty ski racks waste gas.
Keep your vehicle in top shape. A poorly maintained engine can cut gas mileage by 10 to 20 percent. A clogged air filter can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll and can reduce fuel economy by 5 percent. Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, and keep the tires properly inflated.
Drive smart. As much as possible, avoid hard acceleration and braking. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear; varying your speed a lot wastes fuel. A vehicle's gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. With most gasoline engines, it's more efficient to turn off the engine than to idle for any longer than 30 seconds. If you have air conditioning, use it sparingly.
For years, automakers have been criticized for producing vehicles that get so-so gas mileage. But as gas prices climb and consumers seek more miles per gallon, it turns out that fuel economy is much worse than it appears—50 percent less on some models, a new Consumer Reports analysis reveals.
Drivers who track their own fuel economy have long known that their results seldom match the gas mileage claimed by the Environmental Protection Agency on new-car stickers. Our study, based on years of real-world road tests over thousands of miles, quantifies the problem across a wide swath of makes and models.
We compared the claimed EPA fuel economy with the mileage per gallon we measured for 303 cars and trucks for model-years 2000 to 2006. Our selection represents a good cross-section of mainstream, high-volume vehicles. We looked at city, highway, and overall mpg.
Highlights of our study:
Shortfalls in mpg occurred in 90 percent of vehicles we tested and included most makes and models.
The largest discrepancy between claimed and actual mpg involved city driving. Some models we tested fell short of claimed city mpg by 35 to 50 percent.
Hybrids, whose selling point is fuel thriftiness, had some of the biggest disparities, with fuel economy averaging 19 mpg below the EPA city rating.
The EPA ratings are the result of 1970s-era test assumptions that don't account for how people drive today. Automakers also test prototype vehicles that can yield better mileage than a consumer could get.
Despite federal certification, it appears that U.S. vehicle fleets, all cars and light trucks produced in one model year, don't meet government fuel-economy standards. For example, fleet mpg for 2003-model-year vehicles we studied was overstated by 30 percent.
For consumers, the news means that their vehicles typically cost hundreds more per year to operate than they were led to believe. Put another way, when gas in August 2005 hit $2.37 per gallon, the mpg shortchange effectively boosted the price for some motorists to $3.13 per gallon.
For the nation, where the fleet average fuel economy is near its lowest point in 17 years, the findings suggest that the country is far short of its energy goals.
"We are concerned about the differences," Margo Oge, director of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, said of our study. "I think we can do a better job to help consumers assess actual fuel economy."
Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle
Look for a vehicle that gets good fuel economy for its class. The vehicles listed below have provided the best and worst overall fuel economy within their class in our recent tests, and they are still sold. Some appear in more than one category, if appropriate.
Small cars (automatic transmission)
BEST
Overall MPG
Toyota Prius 44
Honda Civic Hybrid 37
Volkswagen Jetta TDI 34
WORST
Subaru Impreza 2.5i 23
Chevrolet Cobalt 23
Small Cars (manual transmission)
BEST
Honda Insight 51
Scion xB 32
Scion xA 31
WORST
Ford Focus ZX4 ST 26
Chevrolet Aveo LS 27
Suzuki Forenza 27
Family sedans
BEST
Toyota Prius 44
Honda Accord Hybrid (V6) 25
Honda Accord 24
WORST
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited 18
Large sedans
BEST
Toyota Avalon 22
Mercury Montego (FWD) 21
Ford Five Hundred (FWD) 21
WORST
Ford Crown Victoria LX 16
Chrysler 300C 16
Mercury Grand Marquis LSE 16
Small SUVS
BEST
Ford Escape Hybrid (4-cyl.) 26
Mercury Mariner Hybrid (4-cyl.) 26
Toyota Matrix XR (AWD) 24
Pontiac Vibe (AWD) 24
WORST
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. (6-cyl.) 14
Kia Sorento LX 15
Jeep Liberty Sport (V6) 15
Midsized SUVs
BEST
Lexus ** 400h 23
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 22
Toyota Highlander Limited (V6) 19
Nissan Murano SL 19
WORST
Dodge Durango Limited 5.7 (V8) 12
Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT LT 13
GMC Envoy XL SLT 13
Land Rover LR3 SE (V8) 13
Large SUVs
BEST
Toyota Sequoia Limited 15
WORST
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT (5.7) V8 12
Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 12
Pickups (crew cab, 4WD)
BEST
Toyota Tacoma TRD (V6) 17
GMC Canyon SLE (5-cyl.) 16
Chevrolet Colorado LS (5-cyl.) 16
WORST
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT (5.7) 11
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT (4.7) 12
Other ways to save money on auto travel
Be skeptical of EPA ratings. The EPA sticker can help you evaluate relative gas mileage among vehicles, but not absolute mpg. Until the EPA ratings are made more realistic, discount the EPA sticker numbers for city travel as follows: conventional cars and trucks, 30 percent; larger hybrids, 35 percent; diesels, 36 percent; smaller hybrids, 42 percent.
Buy regular. If your car owner's manual doesn't recommend a particular grade of gasoline, fill 'er up with regular. And don't waste money on so-called gas-saving devices; our tests have shown that they don't work.
Walk, bike, or "chain." Fuel economy is worst on short trips. These trips also create the most exhaust emissions and cause the most engine wear. Half of all car trips are under six miles, within walking or biking distance. If you must drive, "chain" several errands into a single trip on a warm engine instead of making separate short trips throughout the day.
Avoid highway drag. At highway speeds, where fuel economy is best, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Try not to add to that drag by carrying things on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack can decrease a car's fuel economy by 5 percent. Even empty ski racks waste gas.
Keep your vehicle in top shape. A poorly maintained engine can cut gas mileage by 10 to 20 percent. A clogged air filter can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll and can reduce fuel economy by 5 percent. Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, and keep the tires properly inflated.
Drive smart. As much as possible, avoid hard acceleration and braking. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear; varying your speed a lot wastes fuel. A vehicle's gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. With most gasoline engines, it's more efficient to turn off the engine than to idle for any longer than 30 seconds. If you have air conditioning, use it sparingly.
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