What Is Good Gas Mileage?

Whether a car or truck gets good gas mileage is more complicated than you might think. What qualifies as “good” is a relative term and often highly dependent upon the vehicle that’s under consideration.

Related: What Are the Most Fuel-Efficient Cars?

How Do You Find Out if a Car’s MPG Is Good?

The fairest way to judge whether a vehicle provides good mileage is to see how it stacks up against direct rivals. There’s no point comparing a compact sedan to a three-row SUV or a muscle car like the Ford Mustang to a similarly fun-loving, but much smaller and lighter, sports car like the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

For example, comparing a hybrid sedan like the Toyota Prius to a compact pickup truck like the Ford Maverick seems like an unfair contest. As one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on sale, the 2025 Prius delivers an impressive EPA-estimated 57 mpg combined in a mix of city and highway driving. Yet the Maverick, when equipped with its own hybrid four-cylinder engine, returns up to an EPA-rated 38 mpg combined. Sure, this figure trails that of the Prius, but it makes the Maverick far more gas-friendly than many other small trucks.

The smartest route is to compare vehicles of a similar size and weight, as well as with engines that have relatively the same horsepower and torque output. This allows a savvy car shopper to make the best decision if annual fuel costs are a top buying consideration. In general, a more compact and lighter vehicle — not to mention one with a smaller engine — routinely gets better gas mileage than a larger, heavier vehicle.

For instance, a three-row SUV like the 2025 Kia Telluride delivers up to an EPA-rated combined average of 22 mpg. This clearly isn’t in the same league as the miserly Prius, yet it compares favorably with other mid-size SUVs that offer room for up to eight people; rivals such as the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Chevrolet Traverse are all within the same general fuel-economy ballpark. This also applies to models equipped with all-wheel drive, which is something many car shoppers consider a must-have feature thanks to its added road grip but that often reduces overall fuel economy.

Choosing a specific powertrain can also be highly influential on economy numbers, no matter the type of vehicle. A base 2025 Honda Civic compact hatchback equipped with its standard four-cylinder engine provides an EPA-rated 48 mpg combined. Should a racy Civic shopper step up to the 315-horsepower Type R, the 0-60 mph times tumble but fuel economy similarly drops, to 24 mpg combined. All things considered, that’s still relatively frugal for such a speedy and sporty vehicle.

There are other factors that will impact how much you spend at the pump, too. An engine that prefers a diet of premium gas will always cost more to operate. According to the AAA, the national average for premium gasoline at the time of this writing is about 80 cents pricier than regular. So, if a given vehicle averages 25 mpg and is driven 15,000 miles per year, this calculates to around $500 in extra annual fuel expenditure. With this in mind, a seemingly more efficient powertrain that has a thirst for premium might not necessarily prove as wallet-friendly in reality.

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• How Much Does a Hybrid Save on Fuel Compared to Its Gas Equivalent?

How Do You Find Fuel-Economy Estimates?

EPA estimates are the most reliable and consistent source of fuel-economy estimates, as all vehicles are tested using the same criteria. However, these figures aren’t necessarily set in stone. The EPA is the first to admit that gas mileage will vary based on the type of driving and weather conditions.

To do your own comparison, be sure to check out Cars.com’s Comparison Tool. It displays fuel economy, pricing, powertrain specs and more for up to four vehicles side by side.

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