At what mpg do you consider a car to be fuel-efficient?

Sure, we live in a day and age in which some cars–and even a few SUVs–can achieve real-world fuel mileage of well over 30 mpg, but where do we draw the line between fuel-efficient and fuel-inefficient?

What do you consider to be “fuel-efficient,” as far as a vehicle goes? 25 mpg? 30? 35? 40 or more?

Comments

iansane GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/27/23 3:06 p.m.

Double digits.

ProDarwin MegaDork
6/27/23 3:18 p.m.

>35 mixed

kanaric SuperDork
6/27/23 3:24 p.m.

For me that would be >25

pres589 (djronnebaum) UltimaDork
6/27/23 3:27 p.m.

I feel like it is size & purpose dependent. Like if I had an F-150 and it pulled 30 mpg's in mixed use, no load in the bed or behind, that would be fuel efficient in my book. If I had a mk1 VW Golf with a TDi swap and it pulled 30 mpg's then I would consider that to be fuel inefficient.

I consider my Suzuki SX4 to be fuel inefficient as it pulls about 28 mpg's in mixed use, and highway driving isn't much better than mixed in-town use. It's a smaller car, FWD only, manual trans. If it was pulling high-30's I would probably change my tune, and over 40 I definitely would describe it as fuel efficient. The saving grace here is that the car is pretty reliable and hasn't needed much attention in the near decade I've owned it, 28 isn't abysmal, it's just not very good.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/27/23 3:37 p.m.

In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :

Good point about size and purpose. Like you said, a truck capable of 30 mpg? Fantastic.

But if my Honda Fit was regularly returning anything below 30, I'd be annoyed.

einy (Forum Supporter) Dork
6/27/23 3:51 p.m.

My '14 Accord with the 4 cylinder / CVT combo gets ~ 30 mpg around town, and upper 30's at sustained freeway speed. I consider that really good for a non hybrid vehicle that is not too slow to get out of its own way when needed.

1988RedT2 MegaDork
6/27/23 4:04 p.m.

Yeah, I second (third?) the size and purpose thing. My truck gets 9 mpg, but that's okay because it's a big old beast that gets driven only when I need a big old beast. The CX-9 gets 27, and I think that's great for a vehicle of that size, performance, and comfort level.

As a general rule of thumb, I'd put the "fuel efficient" threshold at 30 mpg, but, again referencing size and purpose, the Corolla "only" gets about 33, which seems sub-par for a small economy car, and downright ludicrous when you put it side by side with the CX-9.

Clearly this number is moving, as there are now full-size "minivans" like the Sienna Hybrid that can pull down high 30's on the highway. If I was specifically shopping for a car based primarily on fuel efficiency (unlikely), I think that number would need to be north of 40 mpg.

maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand UberDork
6/27/23 4:28 p.m.

My motorcycle getting 35 on regular makes it a pig. My Miata getting 35 on premium is advanced space ship technology.

buzzboy SuperDork
6/27/23 4:39 p.m.

Truck or SUV: 25+ when not towing or 20 while towing
Full sized sedan or wagon: 35+ highway
Small car: 40+ highway

I've seen the instant readout on my GF's manual TDI Jetta Sport Wagon show 70 for extended periods, which creeps into my mind more and more when I think about truly fuel efficient. I like to think that more cars are going that way.

My E36 is a small car making only 240hp and gets mid 20s on premium. I consider that way worse than my Jeep getting 20 on regular.