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About This Site
Fuel Economy & MPG Ratings
Tax Incentives & Disincentives
How are
fuel economy estimates obtained?
EPA estimates are based on laboratory tests conducted by manufacturers
according to federal regulations. EPA re-tests about 10% of vehicle
models to confirm manufacturer's results. For more detailed information,
visit our page on How Vehicles
Are Tested.
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Why
does my fuel economy differ from EPA estimates?
No test can accurately predict fuel economy for all drivers
and all driving conditions. Driver behavior, driving conditions,
vehicle maintenance, fuel characteristics, weather, and other
factors can all affect fuel economy significantly as explained
here.
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What should
I do if my fuel economy is excessively low?
If your fuel economy is excessively low, your vehicle may need
to be serviced or repaired. You may want to contact your dealer
or a reputable repair facility to check your vehicle. The following
are some of the diagnostic checks a mechanic will typically conduct
for poor mpg:
-
Perform "On-Board Diagnostic System Check" for
diagnostic trouble codes (sensors or actuators which may be
malfunctioning)
-
Check for dragging brakes
-
Check transmission shift patterns for slipping,
use of all gears, lock-up operation
-
Check ignition timing
-
Check owner's driving habits including A/C
usage, hard accelerations, carrying heavy loads
-
Check emission control system
-
Check vacuum hoses for leaks, kinks, proper
routing
-
Check tire pressure
-
Check fuel type, quality, and alcohol content
-
Check fuel pressure and fuel system for leaks
-
Check air cleaner element
-
Check coolant level
-
Check ignition system for wet plugs, cracks,
wear, improper gap, burned electrodes, or heavy deposits, cracking
or improperly connected ignition wires
-
Check for proper calibration of speedometer
-
In extreme cases, there may be engine problems
such as poor compression or faulty fuel injectors
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Why
don't you have ratings for large vans, pickup trucks and SUVs?
Vans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) weighing
more than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight are classified as heavy-duty
vehicles. Fuel economy regulations do not apply to these vehicles,
so they are not tested. Additional information is available at Which
Vehicles Are Tested?
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How are
vehicle size classes defined?
The size class for cars is based on interior passenger and cargo
volumes as described below. The size class for trucks is defined
by the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), which is the weight of
the vehicle and its carrying capacity. Fuel economy regulations
do not apply to heavy-duty vehicles, so they are not tested. See
Which Vehicles Are Tested for more
information on these vehicles.
| CARS |
Class |
Passenger
& Cargo Volume (Cu. Ft.) |
| Two-Seaters |
Any (cars designed to seat
only two adults) |
| Sedans |
|
| Minicompact |
< 85 |
| Subcompact |
85 - 99 |
| Compact |
100 - 109 |
| Mid-Size |
110 - 119 |
| Large |
120 or more |
| |
|
| Small |
<130 |
| Mid-Size |
130 - 159 |
| Large |
160 or more |
| TRUCKS |
Class |
Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)* |
| Pickup Trucks |
Through Model
Year 2007 |
Beginning Model Year
2008 |
| Small |
< 4,500 pounds |
< 6,000 pounds |
| Standard |
4,500 - 8,500 pounds |
6,000 - 8,500 pounds |
| Vans |
|
| Passenger |
< 8,500 pounds |
| Cargo |
< 8,500 pounds |
| Minivans |
< 8,500 pounds |
| Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) |
< 8,500 pounds |
| Special Purpose Vehicles |
< 8,500 pounds |
*Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = truck weight plus carrying
capacity.
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Where
can I find more information about Corporate Average Fuel Economy
(CAFE)?
Information on U.S. fuel economy regulations is available
at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/cafe/index.htm
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/mpg/index.htm
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/factshts/fefact01.pdf
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What
does gasoline cost?
Links to information on the cost of gasoline in the
United States can be found in the Gasoline
Price Section.
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Should
I use regular or premium gasoline?
The answer is currently available at the FTC's web
site:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut12.shtm
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Where
does gasoline from my local station come from?
The Department of Energy does not collect data on the source of
gasoline sold at retail outlets.
Additional information is available from the Energy Information
Administration:
Primer
on Gasoline Sources and Markets
Where can I
buy E85, biodiesel, or other alternative fuels?
The Alternative Fuels Data Center's Alternative
Fueling Station Locator can help you find alternative fueling
stations in your area.
What can
I do if I suspect a gas station is price gouging or price fixing?
If you believe there may be price-gouging or price-fixing, please
contact your local authorities and fill out the Department of Energy's
Gas Price Watch Reporting
Form.
What
tax incentives are available for alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles?
Visit the appropriate section of the Fuel Economy Web site for
the most up-to-date information on tax incentives for
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What
is the Gas Guzzler Tax?
The Energy Tax Act of 1978 established a Gas Guzzler Tax on
the sale of new model year vehicles whose fuel economy fails to
meet certain statutory levels. The gas guzzler tax applies only
to cars (not trucks) and is collected by the IRS.
The fuel economy figures used to determine the Gas Guzzler Tax
are different from the fuel economy values provided on this web
site and in the Fuel Economy Guide. The tax does not depend
on your actual on-the-road mpg, which may be more or less than
the EPA published value. The purpose of the Gas Guzzler Tax is
to discourage the production and purchase of fuel inefficient
vehicles. The amount of any applicable Gas Guzzler Tax paid by
the manufacturer will be disclosed on the automobile's fuel economy
label (the window sticker on new cars).
| GAS
GUZZLER TAX |
| Unadjusted
MPG (combined)* |
Tax |
| at least 22.5 |
No tax |
| at least 21.5, but less than 22.5 |
$1000 |
| at least 20.5, but less than 21.5 |
$1300 |
| at least 19.5, but less than 20.5 |
$1700 |
| at least 18.5, but less than 19.5 |
$2100 |
| at least 17.5, but less than 18.5 |
$2600 |
| at least 16.5, but less than 17.5 |
$3000 |
| at least 15.5, but less than 16.5 |
$3700 |
| at least 14.5, but less than 15.5 |
$4500 |
| at least 13.5, but less than 14.5 |
$5400 |
| at least 12.5, but less than 13.5 |
$6400 |
| less than 12.5 |
$7700 |
Additional Information from EPA
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How
are total annual greenhouse gas emissions estimated?
The greenhouse gas estimates presented here are
full fuel-cycle estimates, combining the three major greenhouse
gases emitted by motor vehicles:
-
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
-
Nitrous oxide (N
-
methane
. Full fuel-cycle estimates include all steps in
the use of a fuel, from production and refining to distribution
and final use. This gives a more complete picture of the climate
change impacts of using a particular fuel.
Some greenhouse gases have greater impacts on climate
than others. Scientists have developed relative global warming
potential numbers for each gas that gives its impact on global
climate realtive to that of carbon dioxide. We use the global
warming potentials developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change to combine the three gases into tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent. We believe this gives the most compete and
accurate reflection of the impact of each vehicle's energy use
on the global climate.
Numerous assumptions and calculations are necessary
to estimate full fuel-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in carbon
dioxide equivalents. So, estimates from different sources will
vary. Our estimates are taken from the U.S. Department of Energy's
GREET model (Version 1.5) developed by Argonne National Laboratory.
Additional information is available at http://www.transportation.anl.gov/ttrdc/greet/
.
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**Some of the documents on this page are provided as Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) files. Any PDF file can be downloaded, viewed
on screen, and printed using the Adobe
Acrobat Reader software. This free software can be downloaded
from the Adobe Web site. Installation and setup instructions are
provided on this site.
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