U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #690: August 29, 2011
Characteristics of New Light Vehicles over Time
From model year (MY) 1980 to 2010, there have been significant gains made in automotive technology. For new light vehicles, horsepower has more than doubled and "0-to-60" times have dropped from 14.3 to 9.5 seconds. The average weight grew to a high of 4,111 pounds in 2004 and has dropped slightly since then (4,009 pounds in 2010). The average fuel economy of new light vehicles has gradually fluctuated higher and lower over the years, with fuel economy in 2010 being just above the 1987 average.
Characteristics of New Light Vehicles Sold, MY 1980-2010 
Supporting Information
Characteristics of New Light Vehicles Sold, MY 1980-2010
| Model Year |
MPG |
Weight |
Horsepower |
0-60 Time |
| 1980 |
19.2 |
3,228 |
104 |
14.3 |
| 1981 |
20.5 |
3,202 |
102 |
14.4 |
| 1982 |
21.1 |
3,202 |
103 |
14.4 |
| 1983 |
21.0 |
3,257 |
107 |
14.1 |
| 1984 |
21.0 |
3,262 |
109 |
14.0 |
| 1985 |
21.3 |
3,271 |
114 |
13.5 |
| 1986 |
21.8 |
3,238 |
114 |
13.4 |
| 1987 |
22.0 |
3,221 |
118 |
13.1 |
| 1988 |
21.9 |
3,283 |
123 |
12.8 |
| 1989 |
21.4 |
3,351 |
129 |
12.5 |
| 1990 |
21.2 |
3,426 |
135 |
12.2 |
| 1991 |
21.2 |
3,410 |
138 |
12.1 |
| 1992 |
20.8 |
3,512 |
145 |
11.8 |
| 1993 |
20.9 |
3,519 |
147 |
11.8 |
| 1994 |
20.4 |
3,603 |
152 |
11.7 |
| 1995 |
20.5 |
3,613 |
158 |
11.3 |
| 1996 |
20.4 |
3,659 |
164 |
11.1 |
| 1997 |
20.1 |
3,727 |
169 |
11.0 |
| 1998 |
20.1 |
3,744 |
171 |
10.9 |
| 1999 |
19.7 |
3,835 |
179 |
10.7 |
| 2000 |
19.8 |
3,821 |
181 |
10.6 |
| 2001 |
19.6 |
3,879 |
187 |
10.5 |
| 2002 |
19.4 |
3,951 |
195 |
10.3 |
| 2003 |
19.6 |
3,999 |
199 |
10.2 |
| 2004 |
19.3 |
4,111 |
211 |
9.9 |
| 2005 |
19.9 |
4,059 |
209 |
9.9 |
| 2006 |
20.1 |
4,067 |
213 |
9.8 |
| 2007 |
20.6 |
4,093 |
217 |
9.7 |
| 2008 |
21.0 |
4,085 |
219 |
9.7 |
| 2009 |
22.4 |
3,917 |
208 |
9.7 |
| 2010 |
22.5 |
4,009 |
220 |
9.5 |
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Source: U.S. Department of Energy, 2010 Vehicle Technologies Market Report.
[Original source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2010]
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