Fuel economy statistics from the EPA file
8 findings worked out by program from the whole U.S. EPA fuel economy file (model years up to 2026 for the by-class figures) and the NHTSA records of the loaded cars. Each one shows its method and how many samples stand behind it; a finding with fewer than 10 samples is left out.
What all-wheel drive costs in mileage
Median combined mpg: the AWD version gets 1 mpg less than the 2WD version of the same engine and gearbox type; median yearly fuel cost: $150 more for the AWD version (15,000 miles a year).
Based on 3,098 pairs (model year, engine, gearbox, fuel). Pairs are one model year of one model with an AWD and a non-AWD version of the same powertrain, engine size, cylinders, gearbox type and fuel; each side is its best combined figure. Plug-in hybrids are left out, as in the hybrid finding, because their mpg is for gasoline only. Model years 2010 to 2026; medians of the pairs.
What a hybrid saves against the gas version
Median combined mpg: the hybrid version gets 6 mpg more than the gas version of the same model; median yearly fuel cost: $550 less for the hybrid (15,000 miles a year).
Based on 560 model years that have both versions. Pairs are one model year of one model that has both a hybrid and a gas version (plug-in hybrids left out); each side is its best combined figure; yearly cost is the agency's own figure for those two versions. Model years 2010 and later; medians of the pairs.
Median combined mpg by vehicle class, 2026 models
Highest middle figure: Compact Cars, 30 mpg; lowest: Two Seaters, 18 mpg.
Based on 308 model-class entries (a model with versions in two classes is counted in both). One entry per model: its best conventional version's combined mpg; electric and fuel-cell models are left out; the middle (median) figure of each EPA class. 2026 is the newest model year with at least 80% as many models as the year before. Classes with fewer than 10 models are left out.
| Vehicle class | Models | Median combined mpg |
|---|---|---|
| Compact Cars | 17 | 30 |
| Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 31 | 30 |
| Midsize Cars | 26 | 28 |
| Small Station Wagons | 10 | 28 |
| Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 66 | 27 |
| Subcompact Cars | 18 | 25 |
| Large Cars | 16 | 23 |
| Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 | 22 |
| Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 12 | 21 |
| Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 58 | 21 |
| Minicompact Cars | 10 | 20 |
| Two Seaters | 21 | 18 |
How the middle figure changed by model year, 2000 to 2026
Median best combined mpg of a model: 20 in 2000, 24 in 2026.
Based on 7,680 model-year entries. One entry per model and model year: its best conventional version's combined mpg; electric and fuel-cell models are left out; the middle (median) of all models of that year. Years with fewer than 10 models are left out.
| Model year | Models | Median combined mpg |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 231 | 20 |
| 2001 | 245 | 20 |
| 2002 | 256 | 19.5 |
| 2003 | 274 | 19 |
| 2004 | 295 | 19 |
| 2005 | 304 | 19 |
| 2006 | 290 | 19 |
| 2007 | 297 | 19 |
| 2008 | 317 | 19 |
| 2009 | 315 | 20 |
| 2010 | 290 | 21 |
| 2011 | 295 | 21 |
| 2012 | 283 | 22 |
| 2013 | 280 | 23 |
| 2014 | 296 | 23 |
| 2015 | 298 | 24 |
| 2016 | 298 | 24.5 |
| 2017 | 303 | 24 |
| 2018 | 299 | 25 |
| 2019 | 308 | 25 |
| 2020 | 313 | 24 |
| 2021 | 283 | 25 |
| 2022 | 285 | 25 |
| 2023 | 278 | 24 |
| 2024 | 262 | 25 |
| 2025 | 250 | 25 |
| 2026 | 235 | 24 |
Electric cars: median range by model year
Median range of an electric model: 82 miles in 2013, 308 miles in 2026.
Based on 401 electric model-year entries. One entry per electric model and model year: the longest range of its versions in miles, as the agency lists it; the middle (median) of the models of that year. Years with fewer than 10 electric models are left out.
| Model year | Electric models | Median range, miles |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 11 | 82 |
| 2014 | 12 | 83 |
| 2015 | 10 | 84 |
| 2016 | 13 | 84 |
| 2017 | 16 | 115 |
| 2018 | 14 | 125 |
| 2019 | 16 | 215 |
| 2020 | 16 | 237 |
| 2021 | 19 | 234 |
| 2022 | 32 | 265 |
| 2023 | 43 | 265 |
| 2024 | 59 | 303 |
| 2025 | 72 | 300 |
| 2026 | 68 | 308 |
Recalls per car among the cars loaded
Median recalls per car: 2.
Based on 319 cars loaded. Recalls on file for the make, model and model year, as the safety agency returned them, over the cars loaded. Only cars whose NHTSA data was loaded when this site was built are counted; they are not a random sample. Complaints are reports sent in by owners, not proven defects, and neither count is adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Vehicle class | Cars loaded | Median recalls |
|---|---|---|
| Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 82 | 2 |
| Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 43 | 2 |
| Midsize Cars | 38 | 1 |
| Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 36 | 2.5 |
| Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 24 | 2.5 |
| Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 | 2 |
| Small Station Wagons | 15 | 0 |
| Compact Cars | 13 | 1 |
| Large Cars | 11 | 2 |
| Minivan - 2WD | 10 | 2 |
Owner complaints per car among the cars loaded
Median complaints per car: 31.
Based on 319 cars loaded. Complaints on file for the make, model and model year, as the safety agency returned them, over the cars loaded. Only cars whose NHTSA data was loaded when this site was built are counted; they are not a random sample. Complaints are reports sent in by owners, not proven defects, and neither count is adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Vehicle class | Cars loaded | Median complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 82 | 46 |
| Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 43 | 30 |
| Midsize Cars | 38 | 18.5 |
| Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 36 | 39.5 |
| Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 24 | 25.5 |
| Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 | 32 |
| Small Station Wagons | 15 | 20 |
| Compact Cars | 13 | 13 |
| Large Cars | 11 | 32 |
| Minivan - 2WD | 10 | 72.5 |
How to cite this page
You may quote any figure here with a link back. Suggested form:
Car Real Test. "Fuel economy statistics from the U.S. EPA file and NHTSA records." https://carrealtest.com/statistics/ (page built 2026-11-14; EPA fuel economy file dated 2026-11-04).
Common questions
Where do these figures come from?
From the U.S. EPA fuel economy file (50,647 tested versions, file dated 2026-11-04) and, for the recall and complaint counts, from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records of the cars that were loaded. Each finding names its method and the count behind it.
Why are some findings missing?
A finding is shown only when at least 10 samples stand behind it.
Mileage and fuel cost: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.