EPA fuel economy

The EPA fuel economy estimates should be one of the most important factors in deciding which car to buy or lease. Every year the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency combine efforts to release the EPA fuel economy guide to help car buyers find the most fuel efficient vehicle for their needs.

The estimates stem from the assumption that a car will be driven 15,000 miles a year. They expect the car to be driven 55% under city conditions and 45% under highway conditions in order to have some guidelines for the tests. They also assume that the cost of gasoline is 2.65/gallon for regular, and 2.85/gallon for premium.

These tests yield an estimate as to how well the different vehicles perform under the same tests. It is important to know what the numbers on the EPA forms mean because after the car rolls off the dealership lot, it is your responsibility to fill up.

Go check out the fuel economy website and be sure that you know what to look for when purchasing a new or used vehicle. With gas prices rising, it will get more and more expensive to drive your vehicle. The website is here.