UMTRI: US New-Car Fuel Economy Averaged 25.3 MPG In 2014

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The final numbers are in for new-car fuel economy in the United States for 2014, and they are better than they were in 2008.

According to Autoblog, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute found that the average U.S. fuel economy for a 2014 model landed at 25.3 mpg, 22 percent higher than six years ago.

The same percentage of improvement holds up when it comes to vehicles rated at 16 mpg or less, where only one in 30 new cars held that distinction. On the other end of the spectrum, one in six new cars garnered a rating of 32 mpg or above in 2014; only 1 percent could say the same in 2008.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

More by Cameron Aubernon

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 15 comments
  • Zackman Zackman on Feb 24, 2015

    My 2012 Impala gets mpgs as advertised, sometimes better. The worst mpg I have gotten was 19 strictly around town - dead on. 30 on the highway - I have recently gotten 33 on a road trip. So I'd say the current EPA efforts at evaluating real-world fuel economy numbers are pretty accurate.

  • Richard Richard on Feb 24, 2015

    It is interesting this was achieved without the sky falling down. I am sorry the lovely V8s and even lusty V6s have been phased out but manufacturers seem to still provide fast and ever safer cars. It reminds me of the ease with which sulphur dioxide was removed from factory emissions such that pollution permits were soon worthless. Both energy and some US car firms whined about the regs but found out how to deal with them. Business is clever when it applies its intelligence. Presumably other problems that seem so intractable can be sorted out with similar ease if people work on it instead of looking for excuses.

  • Lorenzo I just noticed the 1954 Ford Customline V8 has the same exterior dimensions, but better legroom, shoulder room, hip room, a V8 engine, and a trunk lid. It sold, with Fordomatic, for $21,500, inflation adjusted.
  • Lorenzo They won't be sold just in Beverly Hills - there's a Nieman-Marcus in nearly every big city. When they're finally junked, the transfer case will be first to be salvaged, since it'll be unused.
  • Ltcmgm78 Just what we need to do: add more EVs that require a charging station! We own a Volt. We charge at home. We bought the Volt off-lease. We're retired and can do all our daily errands without burning any gasoline. For us this works, but we no longer have a work commute.
  • Michael S6 Given the choice between the Hornet R/T and the Alfa, I'd pick an Uber.
  • Michael S6 Nissan seems to be doing well at the low end of the market with their small cars and cuv. Competitiveness evaporates as you move up to larger size cars and suvs.
Next