U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #630: July 5, 2010
Fuel Economy vs. Weight and Performance
From 1980 to 2009, there have been significant gains made in automotive technology, but those advancements have been applied toward improved performance and safety rather than fuel economy. Horsepower has more than doubled, top speed has climbed from 107 miles per hour to 139 miles per hour, and "0-to-60" times have dropped from 14.3 seconds to 9.5 seconds. Average vehicle weight has increased 27% during the same period, primarily due to increased vehicle size as well as reinforced structures and added equipment such as airbags that improve crashworthiness. Fuel economy has remained relatively unchanged in the period, with only a 2.9% increase in average light-vehicle fuel economy between 1981 and 2009.
New Light Vehicle Characteristics, 1980-2009 
Supporting Information
Light Vehicle Characteristics, 1980-2009
| Model Year |
MPG |
Weight |
Horsepower |
0-60 Time |
Top Speed |
| 1980 |
19.2 |
3,228 |
104 |
14.3 |
107 |
| 1981 |
20.5 |
3,202 |
102 |
14.4 |
107 |
| 1982 |
21.1 |
3,202 |
103 |
14.4 |
107 |
| 1983 |
21.0 |
3,257 |
107 |
14.1 |
108 |
| 1984 |
21.0 |
3,262 |
109 |
14.0 |
109 |
| 1985 |
21.3 |
3,271 |
114 |
13.5 |
110 |
| 1986 |
21.8 |
3,238 |
114 |
13.4 |
111 |
| 1987 |
22.0 |
3,221 |
118 |
13.1 |
112 |
| 1988 |
21.9 |
3,283 |
123 |
12.8 |
114 |
| 1989 |
21.4 |
3,351 |
129 |
12.5 |
115 |
| 1990 |
21.2 |
3,426 |
135 |
12.2 |
117 |
| 1991 |
21.2 |
3,410 |
138 |
12.1 |
118 |
| 1992 |
20.8 |
3,512 |
145 |
11.8 |
120 |
| 1993 |
20.9 |
3,519 |
147 |
11.8 |
120 |
| 1994 |
20.4 |
3,603 |
152 |
11.7 |
121 |
| 1995 |
20.5 |
3,613 |
158 |
11.3 |
123 |
| 1996 |
20.4 |
3,659 |
164 |
11.1 |
125 |
| 1997 |
20.1 |
3,727 |
169 |
11.0 |
126 |
| 1998 |
20.1 |
3,744 |
171 |
10.9 |
126 |
| 1999 |
19.7 |
3,835 |
179 |
10.7 |
128 |
| 2000 |
19.8 |
3,821 |
181 |
10.6 |
129 |
| 2001 |
19.6 |
3,879 |
187 |
10.5 |
130 |
| 2002 |
19.4 |
3,951 |
195 |
10.3 |
132 |
| 2003 |
19.6 |
3,999 |
199 |
10.2 |
133 |
| 2004 |
19.3 |
4,111 |
211 |
9.9 |
135 |
| 2005 |
19.9 |
4,059 |
209 |
9.9 |
135 |
| 2006 |
20.1 |
4,067 |
213 |
9.8 |
137 |
| 2007 |
20.6 |
4,093 |
217 |
9.7 |
137 |
| 2008 |
21.0 |
4,085 |
219 |
9.7 |
138 |
| 2009 |
21.1 |
4,108 |
225 |
9.5 |
139 |
|
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2009, November 2009. |
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