How Did the EPA Mileage Changes Effect New Models? Try it and Find Out!

The EPA has published estimates of the affect of the revised methods for estimating vehicle fuel economy—which apply to model year 2008 and later vehicles—on earlier model year cars as a way to educate consumers on the likely impact of the changes

Compared to today’s estimates, the city mpg estimates for the manufacturers of most vehicles will drop by about 12% on average, and by as much as 30% for some vehicles. The highway mpg estimates will drop on average by about 8%, and by as much as 25% for some vehicles.

A couple of quick checks gives us the following results:

	Old			New			Drop
	Hwy	City	Combined	Hwy	City	Combined
2006 Lexus ES330	29	21	24	27	18	21	12.50%
2006 Audi A4	32	24	27	30	21	24	11.11%
2006 Mini Cooper S	32	25	27	29	22	24	11.11%
2006 Ford Escape	26	22	24	23	20	21	12.50%
2007 Toyota Prius	51	60	55	45	48	46	16.36%
2007 Honda Fit	38	31	34	35	27	30	11.76%
2006 VW Jetta TDI	31	36	38	37	30	33	13.16%

Read Article

SupraNeverBack - 2/27/2007 3:45:28 PM

+1 Boost

Nothing really changes! It is what it is.

Wow, "My highway MPG is higher than the EPA mpg". Big achievement!

ceric - 2/27/2007 5:01:31 PM

+1 Boost

EPA mpg is supposed to be an "average" not an upperbound. With the new system, I feel that it is much more accurate to what people have been experiencing with their vehicles. I have a Prius for 2 years, and with mixed driving and 16-mile commute, I have been getting 45mpg.

If 50% people beat EPA mpg and the other 50% can't, then the EPA numbers are on target.

MercBasher - 2/27/2007 5:13:13 PM

+1 Boost

Which vehicles will have their combined EPA rating drop by 30%?

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2007 5:27:13 PM

+2 Boost

Only 30mpg for the Fit? Pathetic! My A3 gets 25-27mpg on a daily basis with about 100 more horsepower!

DriveFastSkiFast - 2/27/2007 7:28:14 PM

0 Boost

Too bad the FIT is a car for 16 year old cheerleaders!!! And has an interior that looks like it was made by a 6 year old wth building blocks!

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2007 9:29:29 PM

+3 Boost

The A3 is pretty durable. You can't really say anything about Audi reliability- you've never owned one, obviously. It takes one to know one.

DallasMR2 - 2/28/2007 11:51:25 AM

+1 Boost

WTF? you're bitching about the interior of a car that was released in Europe and Japan 7 years ago, that costs about $12k, and is meant for affordable, reliable, safe transportation?!?! of course it's not going to have the same interior specs as a $30k Audi!!! Jesus F-ing Christ!

the fit is the safest, most reliable, most fun and best looking car in its class!

chewy - 2/27/2007 8:12:10 PM

+1 Boost

Not exactly very accurate. These are just EPA's estimates of estimates of the new fuel economy test. I am waiting for 2008 Model Year test data with the new tests. The database has cars as old as 1985 with the new ratings, I am sure they didn't test a 1985 vehicle to new standards, they just estimated using math. Again, I will wait for 2008 ratings with actual tests and not estimates of estimates.

rg12345 - 2/27/2007 8:22:50 PM

+2 Boost

They say 20mpg city for my manual A4, and that is the lowest I get(worst driving condition, a lot of rpm over 5000). If I just drive (like everybody else who starts from a stop light) I get anywhere between 23-25. If I try really hard I can get about 28mpg (city!) but that is killing me .. like an old lady driving a lexus, not my style. Anyway, I think an average should be 23-24mpg and not 20.