U.S. Fuel Economy Reaches All-Time High

New vehicles achieved an all-time-high fuel economy in 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency announced today. Model year 2013 vehicles achieved an average of 24.1 miles per gallon (mpg) ‑-- a 0.5 mpg increase over the previous year and an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004.

The average carbon dioxide emissions are also at a record low of 369 grams per mile in model year 2013.

EPA’s annual “Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2014” report tracks average fuel economy of new cars and SUVs sold in the United States. The report also ranks automakers’ achievements in model year 2013.

Some additional top-line findings from the report:

• The recent fuel economy improvement is a result of automakers' rapid adoption of more efficient technologies such as gasoline direct injection engines, turbochargers, and advanced transmissions.
• Mazda vehicles averaged the highest fuel economy and lowest greenhouse gas emissions.
• Nissan achieved the greatest improvement in average fuel economy and greenhouse gas reductions.
• SUVs achieved the greatest improvement in all classes of new personal vehicles.

The EPA estimates these standards will save American families more than $8,000 in fuel costs per vehicle by 2025.