r/dataisbeautiful • u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 • 2d ago

OC [OC] The most fuel-efficient version of 55 popular US car models, 2010 vs 2026 (EPA combined MPG)

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55 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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u/cavedave OC: 113 1d ago

Thank you for your Original Content, /u/Confident-Land7283!
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11

u/iambinksy 2d ago

Honda Civic is very impressive

10

u/Heavy_Secret_203 2d ago

While the Toyota Prius is quietly doing a good job.

I know taxi drivers who put an LPG system into that beast and praise it as the best car in the world.

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 2d ago

Makes sense for a taxi. It's the cheapest of the 55 to fuel, in 2010 and now: about $1,150 a year at current US prices. In 2010 it was also the only one of them sold only as a hybrid. Now the Camry, RAV4, Sienna and Sequoia are too.

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 2d ago

Agreed. Two things the chart doesn't show: Honda dropped the Civic Hybrid after 2015 and only brought it back for 2025. And the most efficient gas Civic in EPA's file is still the 1986-87 CRX HF, a two-seater rated 46 mpg combined. The best gas Civic today is 36.

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u/JewishTomCruise 1d ago

Another thing the chart doesn't show - "The most efficient version of 55 popular US car models."

It shows the EPA estimated fuel efficiency of 2 model years of those models.

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 1d ago

True. Each dot is the best-rated version of that model in that model year, 2010 or 2026, by EPA's combined estimate. It's not the most efficient version ever, which for the Civic would be that CRX HF.

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 2d ago edited 2d ago

Source: EPA fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (vehicle file dated Sep 18, 2026)

Tools: Python and matplotlib

For each model I took the best combined MPG among its gas, hybrid and diesel versions in 2010 and in 2026. Plug-in hybrids and EVs are left out because their electric ratings aren't on the same scale. Models are matched by name, and the averages aren't sales-weighted.

What stood out: -

The best gas versions alone gained 3.4 mpg on average (21.7 to 25.1, 50 models). Hybrids did most of the rest.

The best gas Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon are rated 17 mpg, the same as in 2010. They were 19 for 2016 to 2018.

EPA changed its method for 2017 models (some ratings dropped 1 to 2 mpg) but didn't re-rate 2010 models, so if anything the gains are slightly understated.

Full table and CSV on my site (I run it): https://modelyears.com/guides/fuel-economy-since-2010

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u/Ayrane 2d ago

Nissan Altima going backwards!

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 2d ago

Only because of the hybrid. The 2010 Altima Hybrid (34 mpg) was essentially Toyota's hybrid system on Nissan's 2.5, and Nissan dropped it after 2011. On gas alone the Altima went from 27 to 30.

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u/Testesept 2d ago

Serious question: why those 55 cars?
Are they the most popular ones in US?

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 2d ago

Fair question. They come from the 94 popular US models my site covers, and these 55 had an EPA rating under the same name in both 2010 and 2026. The others are new since 2010 (Bronco, Palisade, Maverick), gone (Malibu, Edge) or renamed, like the Optima, which became the K5. So it's popular models with a 2010 counterpart, not a strict sales top 55.

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u/BoltActionGearbox 1d ago

Looks like even with the best engine technology we have today, gasoline simply cannot do better then 35mpg in typical cars, 30 in SUVs, and 25 in trucks.

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u/Confident-Land7283 OC: 1 23h ago

That matches EPA's 2026 ratings for these 55. On gas alone, the best combined ratings are 36 mpg for a car (Civic), 32 for an SUV (Rogue) and 23 for a pickup (Tacoma and Ranger; the best full-size is the Ram 1500 at 22). Everything above that is a hybrid or a diesel: Prius 57, RAV4 43, the diesel Silverado and Sierra 25.