Is Fuel Economy Tanking?

GAITHERSBURG, MD - October 12, 2008: New car buyers are likely to be confused by the sudden drop in fuel economy when comparing 2008 model year vehicles to earlier models. After all, with gas prices soaring, why does new-car fuel economy seem to be going into the tank?

The truth is that fuel economy hasn't suddenly tanked; EPA's methods for estimating gas mileage changed, starting with 2008 vehicles. The new methods, which account for faster accelerations, higher speeds, air conditioner use, and lower cold-temperature starts, produce lower mileage estimates, especially for hybrids.

Comparing the gas mileage of 2008 model vehicles with earlier models is like comparing apples and oranges. So, how can consumers make sense of these ratings when comparing vehicles from different model years?

FuelEconomy.gov's "Find-a-Car" tool helps users compare mileage estimates by showing users the ratings older cars would get under the new tests. This allows consumers to compare apples to apples. "Your MPG," another useful feature on this web site, allows drivers to share their gas mileage data and see the kind of mileage other drivers are getting in the real world. These tools help clear up some of the confusion around the new estimates.

For example, hybrid gas mileage seems to have dropped dramatically. The EPA combined city/highway estimate for the Toyota Prius fell from 55 mpg for the 2007 model to 46 mpg for 2008. However, fueleconomy.gov http://www.fueleconomy.gov shows that, under the new tests, both the 2007 and 2008 models are rated at 46 mpg. Better yet, the "Your MPG" data shows that the gas mileage from 86 real drivers averaged 46.8 mpg-very close to the new estimate.

This holds true for other hybrids as well. The fuel economy for the Ford Escape Hybird (2WD) seems to drop from 34 mpg for the 2007 model to 32 for 2008. But, fueleconomy.gov <http://www.fueleconomy.gov/> shows that, under the new tests, the 2008 model actually gets better mileage than the 2007 model. Therefore, ignore the old ratings on pre-2008 model window stickers and use the ratings at fueleconomy.gov instead.

Despite lower ratings on window stickers, new-car fuel economy is not tanking. And, though the new ratings will initially lead to some confusion, tools at fueleconomy.gov http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ can help consumers through this transition period. Finally, gas mileage depends heavily on traffic conditions and driver behavior. So, with either estimate, remember that your mileage may vary.