U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #657: January 10, 2011
Record Increase for New Light Vehicle Fuel Economy
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 
Note: Fuel economy data are EPA adjusted values.
Supporting Information
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.
Source: EPA, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2010, November 2010.
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