- The average new light-duty vehicle weighed 3,228 lbs in model year 1980 and 4,372 lbs in 2023, a 35.4% increase, while average real-world fuel economy rose from 19.2 to 27.1 MPG (EPA Trends Report Table 3.1).
- In EPA's Test Car List for model years 2024 and 2025, vehicles classed as trucks average 5,197 lbs of equivalent test weight against 4,405 lbs for cars.
- Among conventional gasoline vehicles, the standard SUV class averages 18.6 MPG against 26.2 MPG for compact cars: about 41% more fuel per mile, or $580 more a year at 12,000 miles and $3.10 per gallon.
- These data cannot separate weight from the other differences between classes, such as size, frontal area, engine and drivetrain, so this article does not estimate a MPG cost per pound.
01 Weight and MPG by Vehicle Type
The EPA's certification database (the Test Car List) records each test vehicle's equivalent test weight: curb weight plus a standard passenger and cargo allowance, rounded to an EPA test-weight class. For model years 2024 and 2025 it lists 2,893 test vehicles, each labeled Car, Truck or Both. The Test Car List has no fuel economy size class, and this site has no documented way to match it to the Fuel Economy Guide, so weight and MPG are shown separately.
| EPA vehicle type | Test vehicles | Average equivalent test weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 1,208 | 4,405 |
| Truck | 1,248 | 5,197 |
| Both | 437 | 4,504 |
Fuel economy by vehicle class comes from the Fuel Economy Guide. The table shows conventional (non-hybrid) gasoline vehicles, so the classes are not changed by hybrid mix:
| Vehicle class | Configurations | Average combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcompact car | 111 | 22.1 | $1,683 |
| Compact car | 99 | 26.2 | $1,420 |
| Midsize car | 131 | 26.0 | $1,431 |
| Small SUV / crossover | 369 | 24.4 | $1,525 |
| Standard SUV | 219 | 18.6 | $2,000 |
| Standard pickup | 141 | 17.8 | $2,090 |
The classes that average more fuel per mile are also the classes that hold larger vehicles, but the data here show the class differences, not the effect of weight alone. Moving from a 26.2-MPG compact car to a 18.6-MPG standard SUV lowers fuel economy by 29.0% and raises annual fuel cost by about $580.
Calculated: (26.2 − 18.6) ÷ 26.2 = 29.0%; $2,000 − $1,420 = $580. EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide.02 Weight Trends Over Time
The production-weighted average weight of new light-duty vehicles rose from 3,228 lbs in model year 1980 to 4,372 lbs in model year 2023, an increase of 1,144 lbs (35.4%). Average real-world fuel economy also rose, from 19.2 to 27.1 MPG, so fleet weight and fuel economy rose together over this period.
| Model year | Average weight (lbs) | Average MPG | Change in weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3,228 | 19.2 | Baseline |
| 1990 | 3,426 | 21.2 | +198 lbs |
| 2000 | 3,821 | 19.8 | +593 lbs |
| 2010 | 4,001 | 22.6 | +773 lbs |
| 2020 | 4,166 | 25.4 | +938 lbs |
| 2023 | 4,372 | 27.1 | +1,144 lbs |
Estimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator03 Annual Fuel Cost Impact
The fuel cost difference between smaller and larger vehicle classes over 12,000 miles at $3.10 per gallon:
| Comparison | MPG | Annual fuel cost difference |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car vs Midsize car | 26.2 vs 26.0 | $11 |
| Midsize car vs Small SUV / crossover | 26.0 vs 24.4 | $94 |
| Small SUV / crossover vs Standard SUV | 24.4 vs 18.6 | $475 |
| Compact car vs Standard SUV | 26.2 vs 18.6 | $580 |
| Compact car vs Standard pickup | 26.2 vs 17.8 | $670 |
Over five years, choosing a compact car over a standard SUV saves about $2,901 in fuel alone at these prices. See most and least fuel-efficient SUVs for model-by-model rankings.
Calculated: ($2,000 − $1,420) × 504 Data Sources
- EPA: The 2025 Automotive Trends Report (EPA-420-R-26-001), Table 3.1. epa.gov
- EPA: Test Car List Data, model years 2024 and 2025 (Equivalent Test Weight, Vehicle Type). epa.gov
- EPA/DOE: Fuel Economy Guide database (vehicles.csv), model years 2024 and 2025. fueleconomy.gov
- EIA: U.S. regular gasoline retail price, 2025 average. eia.gov