Record Increase for New Light Vehicle Fuel Economy
January 10, 2011
The sales-weighted fuel economy average of all light vehicles sold in model year (MY) 2009 was 1.4 miles per gallon (mpg) higher than MY2008. This is the largest annual increase in fuel economy since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began recording new car fuel economy data in 1975. In addition, the 22.4 mpg average in 2009 is the highest fuel economy in the series, topping the previous high of 22.0 in 1987. According to the EPA, fuel economy has moved through four phases over the years:
New Light Vehicle Fuel Economy, 1975-2009
Four Phases of Light Vehicle Fuel Economy
New Light Vehicle Fuel Economy, 1975-2009
| Model Year | Miles per Gallon |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 13.1 |
| 1976 | 14.2 |
| 1977 | 15.1 |
| 1978 | 15.8 |
| 1979 | 15.9 |
| 1980 | 19.2 |
| 1981 | 20.5 |
| 1982 | 21.1 |
| 1983 | 21.0 |
| 1984 | 21.0 |
| 1985 | 21.3 |
| 1986 | 21.8 |
| 1987 | 22.0 |
| 1988 | 21.9 |
| 1989 | 21.4 |
| 1990 | 21.2 |
| 1991 | 21.2 |
| 1992 | 20.8 |
| 1993 | 20.9 |
| 1994 | 20.4 |
| 1995 | 20.5 |
| 1996 | 20.4 |
| 1997 | 20.1 |
| 1998 | 20.1 |
| 1999 | 19.7 |
| 2000 | 19.8 |
| 2001 | 19.6 |
| 2002 | 19.4 |
| 2003 | 19.6 |
| 2004 | 19.3 |
| 2005 | 19.9 |
| 2006 | 20.1 |
| 2007 | 20.6 |
| 2008 | 21.0 |
| 2009 | 22.4 |
Note
Fuel economy data are sales-weighted EPA adjusted values.