EPA Gas Mileage Ratings
The United States Department of Energy's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors the fuel efficiency of domestic and imported motor vehicles. EPA gas mileage ratings give a rough idea of how many miles a given vehicle can travel per gallon of gas. The EPA ratings also include information about the climate impact of driving a given vehicle.
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History
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The EPA changed how it measures fuel efficiency in the vehicle model year 2008. The new testing standards resulted in lower gas mileage ratings for many vehicles.
Significance
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EPA gas mileage ratings help demonstrate how much a vehicle owner can expect to pay for gasoline over the life of the vehicle. Gas mileage ratings also give an idea of how fueling the car will impact the climate.
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Misconceptions
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The EPA gas mileage rating is not a guarantee; it's just an estimated figure. Actual mileage will vary depending on your driving habits.
Considerations
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Factors that may cause your actual gas mileage to vary from the EPA rating include: cold weather, quick acceleration and heavy braking, driving at high speeds and using 4-wheel drive.
Fun Fact
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The EPA confirms only 10 to 15 percent of tests in its own laboratories. The rest of the testing is done by vehicle manufacturers and reviewed by the EPA.
Representative Samples
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Not every vehicle is tested. Manufacturers are required to test only one representative vehicle for each combination of engine, transmission and loaded vehicle weight classes.
Exemptions
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Motorcycles and very large pickups or SUVs may be exempt from EPA gas mileage ratings.
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