What is Gas Mileage?

 

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How is EPA Fuel Efficiency Determined?

Are you wondering how EPA fuel efficiency is determined?

While the speed, horsepower, and luxury of any car are incredibly important in the car buying process, gas mileage is vital over its lifetime. While the gas mileage statistics are given by the EPA, there are a few elements to figure out the official gas mileage. Starting with the weight of the vehicle and how much power it has. Just because a car is heavy, the engine technology could lower the amount of gas being used. EPA ratings are usually better for smaller cars, trucks, and SUVs because of their total weight and aerodynamic appearance. In general, these smaller vehicles do not take as much gas to keep them running smoothly. Another consideration is vehicle maintenance, making sure the tires have the right air pressure. As we know, gas mileage is very important for any car and it takes many of the pieces working together to make a fuel-efficient car, truck, or SUV.

Miles Per Gallon Explained

How many miles any vehicle is able to go on a tank of gas is figured out by the mile per gallon it gets. ​Vehicle size, drivetrain (AWD or RWD), and engine technology all play an essential part in determining the fuel mileage for the vehicle. The stats favor small vehicles with hybrid options and a curb weight that’s light enough that barely tip the scales. While the fuel economy can decrease during the lifespan of the car, frequent drives and maintenance are the easiest ways to prevent a drop in your miles per gallon.

City vs Highway

When examining MPGs, there are 2 different results that define the gas mileage of the vehicle, the MPGs in the city and highway. Driving conditions in the real world are very different compared to the testing conditions and the numbers speak for themselves. Calculating the two separate fuel economy ratings shows how your driving habits can affect your vehicle’s MPGs. How you drive will absolutely affect the fuel economy, ​so measuring the two different ratings provides a more accurate description of your vehicle. With all the starting and stopping caused by city driving contrasted with the constant speed of highway driving, clearly, highway driving will probably net higher MPGs.

Do Drive Modes Affect Fuel Economy

Nowadays many vehicles have drive modes and cylinder deactivation to save gas when it’s not needed. A performance driving mode will offer a performance-based experience while “Eco” (or Economy) mode prioritizes MPGs. Between driving modes and cylinder deactivation, cars offer better fuel economy than ever before.