- Car buyers continue to prioritize fuel economy, according to a recent survey from Consumer Reports
- 96% of respondents said fuel economy was important when considering which car to buy
- Respondents believe that the onus is on the shoulders of car manufacturers rather than the government to increase fuel economy
A majority of Americans support stricter fuel economy laws, according to a new Consumer Reports survey.
In this study, Consumer Reports asked 2,191 American adults about the importance of better gas mileage between August and September 2024. Of that sample, 91% drove internal combustion vehicles—and they seemed well aware of the environmental and economic impact of burning fossil fuels. .
The majority of survey respondents—96%—said fuel economy was most important when considering which car to buy or lease, while 66% said it was “very important” or “very important.” Only 4% said it was not important.
2025 Toyota Prius
Fuel economy was the most common feature respondents identified as having room for improvement in new vehicles, something that has been consistent across eight nationally representative surveys conducted by Consumer Reports over nine years. That view was also bipartisan, with many of the both Democrats and Republicans saying that car manufacturers must continue to improve fuel economy.
Such improvements should also be federally mandated, respondents said, with 64% saying the government should continue to increase fuel economy. That's probably because the buying public doesn't trust automakers to improve efficiency on their own. Only 27% agreed that car manufacturers care about reducing fuel costs.
And while many Americans might consider paying for a hybrid if the extra cost is incurred in saving fuel over the course of ownership, they represent a very small majority of 52%.
Lifetime fuel economy since 2001 (via Consumer Reports)
Ever-increasing fuel economy standards are already delivering significant savings regardless of the cars Americans buy. In another analysis, Consumer Reports found that, on balance, stricter standards have delivered fuel savings of over $9,000 compared to 2001 vehicles an additional $6,000 savings could be reached by the 2029 model year, if current levels remain in place, noted Consumer Reports.
The revised Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards confirmed for 2024 cover the 2027-2031 model years, and we are looking for a fuel economy improvement of just 2% for passenger cars and 2% for light trucks during that model year. The EPA estimates that its compliance regulations will require 56% EVs by 2032, and another 13% plug-in hybrids. That's a slower rollout than the 67% EV share originally proposed.
Even these small improvements may be threatened by intrusions The Trump administration loves Big Oil over reducing pollution. But as Consumer Reports points out, such policies can also trick voters into keeping money at the tap.