Automatic Transmissions have closed the Fuel Economy Gap with Manual Transmissions
December 8, 2014
Historically, manual transmissions have delivered better fuel economy than automatic transmissions. However, improvements in the efficiency of automatic transmissions have closed that gap in recent years. Improved designs and the increased number of gears used in automatic transmissions have contributed to the improved fuel economy of vehicles fitted with automatic transmissions. Automatic transmissions have added gears more quickly than their manual counterparts.
Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Fuel Economy, 2014
Notes
- Fuel economy average is the production-weighted harmonic mean.
- 2014 estimates are based on preliminary production data.
Source
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2014, EPA-420-R-14-023, October 2014.