Good fuel consumption generally refers to a vehicle’s ability to travel a large distance using a small amount of fuel, typically measured in miles per gallon (mpg) or liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km). For modern light-duty vehicles (passenger cars and light trucks) in the United States, average fuel efficiency for new 2022 models is estimated at 26.4 mpg, a significant improvement from previous decades[2]. Specifically, cars achieved an average of 33.3 mpg in 2022, while trucks reached 23.4 mpg[2].
A “good” fuel consumption rate depends on the vehicle type:
- Passenger cars: Recent averages around 33 mpg are considered good[2].
- Light trucks and SUVs: Fuel economies of 23–26 mpg for recent models are above average[2].
- Heavy trucks: Efficiency is much lower, typically between 5–8 mpg, due to vehicle weight and usage[1].
Improvements in fuel consumption have resulted in reduced fuel costs and lower carbon emissions. For consumers, a vehicle with fuel efficiency above the current average for its class is generally regarded as having good fuel consumption. Regulatory standards such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program in the U.S. help define targets and benchmarks for what is considered good or acceptable fuel consumption depending on the vehicle segment[5].