What is Fuel Economy In Cars?

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How is Gas Efficiency Calculated?

Are you looking for how gas efficiency is calculated?

While the luxury, speed, and overall horsepower of any new car are very important in the car buying process, miles per gallon are essential over its lifetime. While the miles per gallon are given by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, there are a few parts to determine the official gas mileage. Starting with the weight of the car and the capability of the motor. Just because the vehicle is on the heavier side, the engine technology could lower how much gas is being used. Fuel economy ratings usually are better in smaller vehicles because of their aerodynamics and weight. In general, these smaller cars do not use as much gasoline to keep them on the road. Another consideration is the maintenance of the car as well, doing stuff like making sure the tires have the optimal air pressure. Overall, fuel efficiency is important for all cars and it takes a lot of effort to create a fuel-efficient car, truck, or SUV.

Miles Per Gallon Explained

How far any vehicle could travel with a tank of gas is calculated by the fuel economy it gets. ​Vehicle size, drivetrain (AWD or RWD), and engine power all play an essential part in determining the MPGs of the vehicle. The statistics like small cars with hybrid capabilities and a low overall weight that barely tips the scales. While the fuel economy can get worse during the life of a car, frequent drives and updated maintenance are the simplest ways to keep your fuel economy high.

Fuel Economy in Highway vs City

When looking at MPGs, there are two numbers that define the gas mileage of the car, city and highway miles per gallon. Rear world driving conditions are different compared to the conditions in testing facilities and the overall numbers reflect that. Noting the two separate gas mileage ratings shows how driving habits will change the vehicle’s miles per gallon. Your driving habits will absolutely affect a vehicle’s miles per gallon, ​so providing the two different ratings provides an accurate expectation for your vehicle’s gas mileage. When you consider all the starting and stopping caused by city driving contrasted with the constant movement of highway driving, clearly, highway driving gets a higher amount of gas mileage versus driving in the city.

Gas Mileage & Driving Modes

Nowadays many cars have drive modes and cylinder deactivation to save fuel when it’s not needed. A performance mode will prioritize a performance-based drive while “Eco” (or Economy) mode prioritizes gas mileage. Between driving modes and cylinder deactivation, new vehicles are more fuel-efficient than ever before.