What is Good Gas Mileage?

Last Updated on January 27, 2023

Gas prices have been steadily increasing and decreasing since hitting rock bottom in 2020 when the demand for gas was so low, gas suppliers paid customers to take gas from them. Today, a gallon of gas will leave you wondering how to best maximize your gas mileage while saving some money. So let’s answer the question, what is good gas mileage?

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The price for a gallon of gas

In 2020, as a result of the pandemic, most people were obeying stay-at-home orders, and the demand for gasoline plummeted. Gas prices dropped drastically as energy companies cut production. 

Then in 2021, people began returning to their places of employment, visiting friends and family. They were again participating in community events, taking trips, and fuel usage greatly increased. However, energy companies weren’t as quick to “turn the pumps back on,” so supply didn’t keeping up with demand. The price for a gallon of gas followed accordingly.

Coupled with inflation at a 30-year high, regular unleaded gasoline prices rose by about $1.50 year over year (March 2021-March 2022). Diesel prices rose by about $2.00 over the same time period. Now, diesel and gas engine vehicles are contending with fluctuating gas prices with the current average for regular gas being around $3.38 and diesel being around $4.61.

The same price increase that happened with gas also happened with used and new cars. And though electric cars have gained some popularity, their price range remains unavailable to most people. That means most people are still relying on gasoline engines.

Last spring, the United States imported oil from Russia at its highest rate in 10 years. By the end of 2021, Russia had become the second-largest exporter of oil to the US. Since ceasing those imports, the price for a barrel of oil spiked to more than $100 per barrel—a price not seen since 2014. Although gas prices have slightly subsided and plateaued, then risen again, gas prices are likely to fluctuate with no end in sight. Plus, gas prices tend to increase in the summer.

Whether you have an electric vehicle, gasoline, a crossover between the two, or you just need something for towing, everyone benefits from having good gas mileage.

What is good gas mileage?

Gas mileage is measured in miles per gallon (mpg). While horsepower measures the strength of vehicle’s engine or motor, mpg states how many miles a vehicle can travel on a single gallon of fuel. A vehicle is listed with three mpg ratings: a city mpg rating, a highway mpg rating, and a combined mpg rating. The farther you travel on a gallon of fuel, the better the gas mileage of the vehicle. 

That means a big number equals good gas mileage. For example, 50 mpg is better than 20 mpg. These numbers are especially important when you take into account the type of car you take on the road, such as a used car or something new, hybrid vehicles, whether the car is aerodynamic, even the brand factors in. This information helps you make more informed purchases, and helps you determine if you’re getting the best usage out of your current vehicle.

Here’s an example, a Honda CR-V and a Toyota Crown will provide two different mpg ratings for both the city and highway, but depending on how much you drive, and where, will let you know whether or not the vehicle has good gas mileage. Plus, depending on your specific needs, you’ll know which vehicle is the better choice.

The 2023 Honda CR-V offers a mpg city rating of 28. The city mpg rating represents the miles per gallon one can expect while driving just on city roads. Due to the increased braking and acceleration associated with city driving, city mpg is always the lowest number of the three mpg ratings.

The 2023 Toyota Crown has an estimated mpg highway rating of 41. Highway mpg represents the expected miles per gallon while driving just on highways. This is always the highest number of the three mpg ratings. 

Combined mpg represents the miles per gallon expected when driving on both city streets and highways. This number is an approximate average of the other two. 

How to calculate a vehicle’s mpg

If you don’t know your vehicle’s mpg ratings, you can calculate them. 

Completely fill your tank with gas. Drive a fair distance on city streets—at least 50 miles, so you encounter numerous driving conditions. That will help you produce a more accurate result. Then fill up your tank again. Make note of how many gallons you just put into the tank. Then take the number of miles driven and divide it by the number of gallons. 

For example, if you filled the tank by 3.5 gallons after driving 53 miles, your vehicle’s city mpg would be 15.1, so it would drive 15.1 city miles for every gallon of fuel.

In order to calculate your vehicle’s highway mpg, perform the same experiment as above, but use gas stations located near a highway to minimize the amount of city driving. 

You may also be wondering some other questions, like what is the average gas mileage in the U.S.?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average fuel economy in 2021 was 25.4 mpg. With every model year, ideally, fuel economy will increase.

Conveniently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency also mapped out their selection of the best and worst mpg ratings based on class size. For example, in EPA-estimates of the midsize section, the Tesla Model RWD is a the top with a combined mpg of 132. In the two-seater section, the BMW Z4 sDrive30i ranks at the top with a combined mpg of 28.

Is 30 miles to the gallon good?

Based on the average mpg in 2021, if you’re driving a vehicle that drives 30 miles on a gallon, then you are ahead of the curve.

Is 24 miles per gallon good?

Though this number is below the average, you’re right in the ball park of what is considered good mpg. If your Toyota Camry is averaging this number, then you’re in good shape.

Is 23 miles per gallon good?

As with 24 mpg, if this is what your vehicle is averaging, then you are in a good spot, and should plan on getting vehicles that provide even greater mpg from here on out.

Is 20 miles per gallon good?

This mpg rating puts your vehicle on the lower end of a changing trend. Consider an upgrade, one that will definitely save you money with today’s gas prices.

Improving a vehicle’s gas mileage 

There are a number of factors that affect gas mileage. The mpg ratings posted by the vehicle manufacturer is accurate only under certain vehicle and driving conditions. 

According to the US Department of Energy (DoE): “Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by roughly 15-30 percent at highway speeds and 10-40 percent in stop-and-go traffic.”

Drive the speed limit. Vehicles become less fuel efficient once they reach a certain speed. That speed differs from vehicle to vehicle. However, for every five miles per hour you drive in excess of that speed, is equivalent to paying $0.29 per gallon for gas according to the US DoE. 

Other driving behaviors that affect gas mileage include using cruise control and idling.

You can also increase gas mileage by decreasing the total weight of the vehicle. Are you carrying anything in your car that you don’t need? If so, take those items out of your vehicle and find somewhere else to store them, or dispose of them. 

Keep your vehicle streamlined. Items such as rooftop storage or flags produce a drag effect that decreases gas mileage. 

Keep your vehicle in good operating condition. If a vehicle’s power system or a number of other inter-related systems is working inefficiently, it will require more power (and therefore more fuel). Keep your tires inflated. For every one psi missing from your vehicle’s tires, you lose 0.1 percent of your gas mileage.

Improving a vehicle’s fuel economy

A vehicle’s fuel economy is just summary of its mpg rating. Whether you have an electric motor or gasoline engine, each vehicle has a fuel economy. And whenever your vehicle has an economy that qualifies as good, that vehicle is deemed fuel-efficient. Hybrid cars and electric vehicles have the best fuel economies.

For example, let’s say there is a full-size Chevy vehicle that provides 16 mpg in the city, but 21 highway mpg. If you drive a lot in the city, you can expect to pay more often for gas. This could lead you to buy a smaller vehicle that still fulfills your needs, but provides a better fuel economy when in the city.

Now, the fuel economy for your vehicle is not necessarily preset. Manufacturers give you their own estimate/average. With proper maintenance (and depending on your driving habits), you can actually improve your fuel economy. Here are a few examples of how:

Replace O2 sensors

O2 sensors that are not maintained result in greater fuel consumption, which equals lower fuel economy.

Lower your vehicle’s weight

If there’s unnecessary junk you keep in the car, perform a clean up and lose the extra weight. You’ll drive further, faster.

Maintain your tires

Keep your tires inflated to make sure you’re traveling safely and getting the most out of your vehicle.

Oil Changes

Don’t forget to perform those routine oil changes, and make sure you switch out the filter too!

Vehicles with the best gas mileage

Maybe you want to invest in a new vehicle and pay less at the pumps. Here are the top five (non-electric, non-hybrid) 2022 model cars with the highest mpg (city/highway/combined):

For those who consider the final two entries to be the same vehicle—both sharing the same architecture, engine and driveline—the car with the fifth highest mpg is the Toyota Corolla Hatchback at 32/41/35 city/highway/combined mpg. 

Fuel efficiency is important to pickup truck owners as well. Here are the (non-electric, non-hybrid) 2022 model pickup trucks with the highest mpg (city/highway/combined):

And here are the five (non-electric, non-hybrid) 2022 model SUVs with the highest mpg (city/highway/combined):

Gas mileage has improved over the years. Compare the top combined mileage for the most fuel efficient cars over the last three decades.

Escalating gas prices, government mandates, customer demand, and the rise of electric vehicles pushed manufacturers to offer vehicles with better gas mileage. Though, electric vehicles (EVs) are now lapping gasoline-powered vehicles when it comes to good mpg. EVs are measured in miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) so they can be compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, and the combined mpge of the EV with the best mileage is 118—the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt—triple the amount of the Mitsubishi Mirage.

Now, if a new vehicle isn’t quite your speed, you’re not alone. With inflation causing a rise in gas prices, there’s been a rise in everything else as well, including new and used cars. There are other options for you, some of which include searching through online actions to find a ride that matches your taste and keeps things frugal. 

Gas already costs an arm and a leg. No need to lose your other arm and leg on a car.