What is EPA Fuel Mileage?

View Inventory

How is Fuel Efficiency Calculated In Cars & Trucks?

Are you wondering how fuel efficiency is calculated in cars and trucks?

While the luxury, speed, and horsepower of a new car are incredibly important in the buying process, the vehicle’s miles per gallon are essential over its lifetime. While the fuel mileage statistics are provided by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, there are several contributing factors to determine the gas mileage. Leading off with the car’s weight and how much power it has. Even if the car is on the heavier side, the engine technology could still lower the amount of fuel being used in specific situations. Fuel economy ratings usually are higher for small cars, trucks, and SUVs because of their weight in total and aerodynamic appearance. In general, these smaller cars, trucks, and SUVs don’t need as much fuel to keep them running smoothly. Another factor to consider is the maintenance of the vehicle as well, doing items like making sure the tires have the optimal air pressure. Overall, gas mileage is critical for any vehicle and it takes a lot of effort to create a fuel-efficient car, truck, or SUV.

What is Fuel Economy?

How many miles a car could go with a tank of gas is calculated by the fuel economy it gets. ​Vehicle size, drivetrain (AWD or RWD), and engine power all play a huge role in determining the fuel mileage for a vehicle. The stats favor small vehicles with hybrid capabilities and a curb weight that’s light enough that just barely tip the scales. While fuel mileage can decrease over time, maintenance and frequent drives are the simplest ways to keep your fuel economy high.

Highway vs City Gas Economy

Looking at fuel economy, there are 2 statistics that define the gas mileage, city and highway MPGs. Driving conditions in the real world are much different when compared to the testing conditions and the results show it. Noting the 2 unique gas mileage ratings displays how your driving habits will absolutely change the vehicle’s MPGs. How you drive will affect your miles per gallon, ​so noting both ratings gives a more accurate description of your vehicle. With all the starting and stopping caused by city driving contrasted with the constant movement of highway driving, it’s clear that driving on the highway will probably net a higher amount of MPGs.

Do Drive Modes Affect Gas Mileage

These days many vehicles have drive modes and cylinder deactivation to preserve fuel when desired. A performance driving mode will offer a performance-based experience while “Eco” (or Economy) mode will save fuel. Between driving modes and cylinder deactivation, cars are more fuel-efficient than ever before.