U.S. Fuel Economy Average Surged in 2012

The average fuel economy of new cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. last year rose more than 6% to 23.8 mpg the biggest one-year jump in 37 years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA, citing preliminary data for 2012, says the new-vehicle average for personal-use vehicles has improved 16% since 2007. Over that period, average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and light trucks fell 13% to 374 grams per mile.

The agency attributes the improvement to a greater choice of more efficient vehicles. It notes, for example, that the number of trucks and vans with a city/highway fuel economy average of 20 mpg or more has surged 71% to 65 models over the past five years.

Almost 25% of light vehicles sold in the U.S. last year already meet the agency's 2016 model year CO₂ emission standards, the EPA reports. It also says about 20 models all of them hybrids or electrics could meet 2025 standards.

The agency estimates that all major carmakers improved their fuel economy averages from 2011 to 2012. Volkswagen had the highest sales-adjusted average (26.2 mpg) last year, followed by Mazda (25.9 mpg), Toyota (25.6 mpg) and Honda (26.4 mpg).

The EPA did not include Hyundai and Kia, which admitted they reported inaccurately high fuel economy numbers last year. The agency estimates Hyundai and Kia's corrected averages for 2012 were 28.8 mpg and 26.7 mpg, respectively.

The two lowest averages in the EPA's tally were posted by Chrysler-Fiat (20.6 mpg) and General Motors and Daimler (21.4 mpg each).

Other averages reported by the agency:

• Vehicle horsepower rose by 16 hp to 230 hp from 2010 to 2011, the most recent year of full data.
• Vehicle weight from 2010 to 2011 grew by 125 lbs to 4,127 lbs.
• 0-60 mph acceleration time continues to decline, falling from a peak of more than 14 seconds in 1982 to 9.4 seconds in 2011.