Good gas mileage is anything above the average for your type of vehicle. The average new gas or hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S. gets 25.6 mpg, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal agency that publishes U.S. fuel economy data: about 25 miles from one gallon of gas. Sedans average 31.7 mpg, SUVs 24.7–30.2 mpg, and pickups 20.3 mpg (model year 2024, the latest final data). Below: whether your MPG is good, how many miles a gallon or a full tank takes you, how to calculate your MPG, and the habits that raise it.
What Is Good Gas Mileage for a Car?
A car gets good gas mileage when it beats the average for its vehicle type. These are the EPA’s real-world averages for new gas and hybrid vehicles, model year 2024 (electric and plug-in hybrid models excluded):
Vehicle type | Average MPG | Good MPG is |
|---|---|---|
Sedan / wagon | 31.7 | Above 32 |
Car SUV | 30.2 | Above 30 |
Truck SUV | 24.7 | Above 25 |
Minivan / van | 25.5 | Above 26 |
Pickup truck | 20.3 | Above 20 |
All new vehicles | 25.6 | Above 26 |
The EPA counts most two-wheel-drive SUVs under 6,000 pounds as car SUVs; four-wheel-drive and heavier SUVs count as truck SUVs. That’s why their averages differ by more than 5 mpg.
Is 15, 20, 30 or 40 MPG Good?
15 mpg is low for any vehicle, 20 mpg is about average only for a pickup, 30 mpg is good for most SUVs, minivans and pickups, and 40 mpg is above average for every vehicle type. Whether a number is good depends on what you drive: 20 mpg is normal for a pickup (20.3 mpg average) but low for a sedan (31.7 mpg average). Find your MPG below:
MPG | Is it good? |
|---|---|
14–17 mpg | No: below average for every vehicle type, including pickups (20.3 mpg) |
19–22 mpg | Average for a pickup; low for a sedan (31.7 mpg average) or SUV |
25 mpg | Average for a truck SUV or minivan; good for a pickup |
30 mpg | Good for an SUV, minivan or pickup; about average for a car SUV; just below average for a sedan |
35 mpg | Yes: above average for every vehicle type |
40 mpg | Yes: above average for every vehicle type |
How Many Miles Is a Gallon of Gas?
One gallon of gas takes you as many miles as your vehicle’s MPG: 25 miles in a 25-mpg vehicle, 40 miles in a 40-mpg vehicle. For more gas, multiply the gallons by your MPG:
Your MPG | 1 gallon | 3 gallons | 15-gallon tank |
|---|---|---|---|
20 mpg | 20 miles | 60 miles | 300 miles |
25 mpg | 25 miles | 75 miles | 375 miles |
30 mpg | 30 miles | 90 miles | 450 miles |
40 mpg | 40 miles | 120 miles | 600 miles |
How Far Can a Full Tank Go?
A full tank goes as far as your tank size times your MPG. Find the tank capacity in your owner’s manual: a 14-gallon tank in a 30-mpg car gives a range of about 420 miles. Speed, traffic and weather change the real range.
How to Calculate Your Car’s MPG
Calculate your MPG by dividing the miles you drove by the gallons it took to refill the tank:
- Fill the tank completely and reset the trip odometer.
- Drive as usual until the tank is at least half empty.
- Fill the tank completely again and note how many gallons it took.
- Divide the miles on the trip odometer by those gallons. Example: 312 miles ÷ 12 gallons = 26 mpg.
Repeat over several fill-ups for a reliable number.
How to Calculate Gas Cost for a Trip
Divide the trip distance by your MPG to get the gallons you need, then multiply by the price per gallon. Example: a 300-mile trip in a 30-mpg car needs 10 gallons; at $3.00 a gallon, that’s $30.
Tips to Save Gas
To save gas, accelerate and brake smoothly, slow down on the highway, and turn the engine off instead of idling. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving lowers gas mileage by up to 40% in stop-and-go traffic, slowing down by 5 to 10 mph saves 7%–14%, and idling burns up to half a gallon an hour while you go nowhere. Cruise control on open highways, AC at highway speeds, combining short trips, and well-inflated tires save more on top.
Accelerate and Brake Smoothly
Fast acceleration and hard braking use more gas: aggressive driving lowers gas mileage by 15%–30% at highway speeds and 10%–40% in stop-and-go traffic. Accelerate gradually and ease off the gas early instead of braking late.
Slow Down on the Highway
Gas mileage drops quickly above 50 mph. Slowing down by 5 to 10 mph on the highway improves fuel economy by 7%–14%.
Turn the Engine Off Instead of Idling
Idling burns a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and AC use. Turning the engine off saves fuel for any stop longer than about 1 minute, since restarting takes about 10 seconds’ worth of fuel.
More Ways to Save Gas
- Use cruise control on open highways to hold a steady speed.
- Use AC at highway speeds, windows at low speeds: open windows add drag that grows with speed.
- Combine short trips: a cold engine burns more fuel, and gas mileage can drop up to 24% on 3- to 4-mile trips in cold weather.
- Check your tires: under-inflated tires and high rolling resistance raise fuel use; see how tires affect your car’s fuel consumption.
Do Gas-Saving Devices Work?
No. The EPA has evaluated or tested more than 100 products sold as gas savers and hasn’t found any that significantly improves gas mileage, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Some may damage the engine or raise exhaust emissions, and no government agency endorses them.
Get More Miles From Your Vehicle
Your driving habits set your gas mileage, and so does your vehicle, starting with its tires. Shop tires at NeoTires: orders get same-day dispatch and arrive in 2-3 business days across the U.S., and tires labeled Free Shipping ship free.
Why Trust Us?
The figures in this guide come from the EPA’s Automotive Trends Report, the U.S. Department of Energy’s fuel economy guidance, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Automotive Trends Report (model year 2024 data)
- U.S. Department of Energy: Driving More Efficiently
- FuelEconomy.gov: Driving More Efficiently
- FuelEconomy.gov: Fuel Economy in Cold Weather
- Federal Trade Commission: Gas-Saving Products
- Kelley Blue Book: How to Calculate MPG
- The Autopian: How the EPA Decides What Is a Car and What Is a Truck
