The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes a minimum and maximum combined city/highway fuel economy for each vehicle size class. Their data shows that, in most cases, there is a wide range of fuel economies for consumers to consider when purchasing a new vehicle. For model year 2020, the midsize car class had the widest range in fuel economy, spanning from 12 to 141 MPG/MPGe*. The vehicle classes that have maximum fuel economy ratings topping one hundred MPG reflect the inclusion of all-electric models. These models have much higher efficiency than conventional vehicles. The median fuel economy of all vehicle classes falls into a much narrower band ranging from 19 to 28 MPG/MPGe*.
* Plug-in electric vehicles are measured in miles per gallon equivalent or MPGe where 1 gallon of gasoline is equal to the energy in 33.7 kW-hrs of electricity.
Note: Includes light-duty vehicles of all fuel types. For plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, a composite gasoline-electric MPGe was used.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Fuel Economy website. Data accessed October 30, 2020.