The average fuel economy for new cars climbed to over 30 miles per gallon (mpg) in 2008 while the average for new pickup trucks stayed around 20 mpg. For new vans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) the average fuel economy has noticeably increased in the last few years. These data are weighted by the number of vehicles sold.

New Vehicle Sales-Weighted Fuel Economies, 1975-2008
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Note: Data are EPA Laboratory test values (unadjusted).

Supporting Information

Sales-Weighted Fuel Economies of New Light Vehicles, 1975-2008
Model YearCarsPickup trucksVansSport Utility Vehicles
197515.814.013.113.0
197617.514.613.913.8
197718.316.014.715.1
197819.915.714.214.4
197920.315.513.512.6
198023.519.416.615.5
198125.121.017.516.8
198226.021.717.317.6
198325.922.217.719.1
198426.321.518.919.3
198527.021.419.519.8
198627.922.220.620.2
198728.122.520.920.6
198828.621.521.220.4
198928.121.221.120.0
199027.820.721.219.8
199128.021.721.420.3
199227.620.921.519.9
199328.221.121.919.9
199428.021.021.519.7
199528.320.421.819.6
199628.320.822.220.0
199728.420.422.120.1
199828.520.722.720.1
199928.219.922.320.1
200028.220.522.820.1
200128.419.622.120.8
200228.619.523.020.6
200328.919.923.520.8
200428.919.623.720.9
200529.519.724.021.6
200629.220.124.322.1
200730.320.224.322.7
200830.320.224.523.3

Note: Data are EPA Laboratory test values (unadjusted).
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2008, September 2008.

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