U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #498: December 3, 2007
New Light Vehicle Fuel Economy

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, new car fuel economy rose slightly from model year (MY) 2004 to 2005, and again from MY 2005 to 2006. This is the first consecutive increase in new light vehicle fuel economy since the mid-1980's. The projected values for 2007 show a slight increase in fuel economy for cars and light trucks separately, but the combined value holds steady due to changes in the expected sales mix of cars and light trucks.

New Light Vehicle Fuel Economy, Model Years 1975-2007
Graph showing the average new vehicle fuel economy in miles per gallon for cars, light trucks, and both for the model years 1975 to 2007. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

New Vehicle Fuel Economy
(Miles Per Gallon)
Model Year Cars Light Trucks Both Cars and Light Trucks
1975 13.5 11.6 13.1
1976 14.9 12.2 14.2
1977 15.6 13.3 15.1
1978 16.9 12.9 15.8
1979 17.2 12.5 15.9
1980 20.0 15.8 19.2
1981 21.4 17.1 20.5
1982 22.2 17.4 21.1
1983 22.1 17.8 21.0
1984 22.4 17.4 21.0
1985 23.0 17.5 21.3
1986 23.7 18.2 21.8
1987 23.8 18.3 22.0
1988 24.1 17.9 21.9
1989 23.7 17.6 21.4
1990 23.3 17.4 21.2
1991 23.4 17.8 21.2
1992 23.1 17.4 20.8
1993 23.5 17.5 20.9
1994 23.3 17.2 20.4
1995 23.4 17.0 20.5
1996 23.3 17.2 20.4
1997 23.4 17.0 20.1
1998 23.4 17.1 20.1
1999 23.0 16.7 19.7
2000 22.9 16.9 19.8
2001 23.0 16.7 19.6
2002 23.1 16.7 19.4
2003 23.2 16.9 19.6
2004 23.1 16.7 19.3
2005 23.5 17.2 19.9
2006 23.3 17.6 20.2
2007 23.4 17.7 20.2

Note: MY 2007 data are projected.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology Fuel and Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2007, September 2007.

 

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