EPA Report: Honda Leads U.S. Fuel Economy as Toyota Gains Fast

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its 2025 Automotive Trends Report and Honda took the top spot as the nation's most fuel-efficient automaker, not including all-electric brands like Tesla, with a fleet average economy of 31 mpg. Next come Hyundai and Kia with fleet averages of 29.8 and 29.2 mpg respectively before Toyota tied for fourth with BMW and Nissan at 29. Ford, GM, and Stellantis are at the bottom in that order at 23.4, 22.9, and 22.8 mpg, which isn't surprising given most vehicles they sell are gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs that undermine their EV gains.

What may surprise you in the EPA report is the recent leap in fuel economy averages posted by 13 of the 14 largest automakers, the odd one being Tesla, that sell cars in the U.S. Although Honda saw its five-year fleet average jump from 28.9 to 31 the leader here was Toyota with a 3.3 mpg gain between Model Year 2019 and 2024 followed by BMW with a 2.8 mpg gain across its U.S. lineup and a respectable 2.4 mpg across all Mercedes.

EPA credits the improvement to manufacturers adding electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to their lineups. But after removing the impact of these electrified and hybridized vehicles the only automakers that haven't taken a massive hit to their fleet averages were Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. Without EVs and PHEVs the average economy figures across their lineups are 30.1, 28.4, and 28.5 mpg respectively.

Toyota Is Improving Its EPA Game for Model Year 2025, Honda Isn't

Preliminary results for Model Year '25 were also made available by the EPA. Looks like BMW, Toyota, and Hyundai all have Honda beat with fleet averages of 31.1, 30.5, and 30.4 mpg respectively. EPA says Honda's real-world fuel economy average has dipped to 29.6 mpg. Ford and GM have improved their mileage figures to slightly above 24 mpg. Stellantis however is still at the bottom at that same 22.8 mpg.

Honda's been at the top five times since the inception of this exercise and its Civic has consistently ranked among the most fuel-efficient gas-only cars in the U.S. From 2015 to 2024 though it was the now-discontinued Mitsubishi Mirage that took the crown nine years out of 10. As for EVs the EPA rates Lucid cars very highly and a Lucid beat the Teslas as the most efficient EV sold in America. Per the EPA Tesla's five-year fleet average drop is largely attributed to the significant increase in Model Y and Model X SUV sales. Even then Tesla boasts an impressive fleet average of 117.1 mpg for Model Year '24. So technically it's the most energy-efficient carmaker in the United States.

These are all estimated real-world data according to the EPA calculated after a mix of 43% city and 57% highway driving. Realistically speaking think of them as optimistic estimates rather than absolute guarantees. That said the EPA says its methodology in calculating these estimates has been adapted over time to match changes in technology and driving habits.