A good MPG is anything above the average for that type of car. For 2026, a good figure is about 30+ mpg for a sedan, 27+ for an SUV and 23+ for a pickup; a hybrid that clears 40+ mpg is excellent. The average new car gets about 24 mpg combined — so 30+ mpg is genuinely good across most cars, and anything under ~20 is thirsty.
Good MPG by car type
"Good" means different things for a compact and a full-size truck. Here's the real 2026 average for each body type, the threshold for good (top ~30%) and excellent (top 10%), plus the class leader:
| Car type | Average | Good | Excellent | Class leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagon | 29+ mpg | 38+ mpg | Honda CR-V (40) | |
| Car | 30+ mpg | 48+ mpg | Toyota Prius (57) | |
| Minivan | 32+ mpg | 36+ mpg | Toyota Sienna (36) | |
| SUV | 27+ mpg | 36+ mpg | Kia Niro (53) | |
| Truck | 23+ mpg | 25+ mpg | Ford Maverick (38) | |
| Two-seater | 22+ mpg | 28+ mpg | Mazda MX-5 (29) |
Averages are the mean combined MPG of every 2026 model in each class; "good" = top ~30% of the class, "excellent" = top 10%. See the full ranking at best MPG cars or by type (SUVs, sedans, trucks).
Good MPG by fuel type
Powertrain matters even more than size. A "good" number for a gas car is ordinary for a hybrid, and electric cars are measured in MPGe (energy-equivalent), on a different scale entirely:
| Fuel type | Average | Best 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 36 mpg | |
| Hybrid | 57 mpg | |
| Diesel | 25 mpg | |
| Electric (MPGe) | 146 MPGe |
So a gas car above ~26 mpg is good; a hybrid should clear 40+; a diesel trades some economy for torque; and any EV effectively wins on energy cost. See the best hybrids and most efficient EVs.
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Good MPG by engine size
Cylinders drive fuel economy hard. A "good" number for a V8 would be poor for a four-cylinder — here's the 2026 average and best by engine:
| Engine | Average MPG | Best MPG | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cylinder | 57 mpg | 405 | |
| 3-cylinder | 32 mpg | 15 | |
| V6 | 30 mpg | 250 | |
| V8 or bigger | 20 mpg | 136 |
A four-cylinder above ~30 mpg, a V6 above ~24, or a V8 above ~18 is doing well for its type. See the most efficient V8s.
What's a good MPG for a used car?
"Good" has moved over time — the same MPG that was excellent 20 years ago is only average today. Judge a used car against its own era's average, not a new car's:
| Model year | Average MPG | Good for that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 25+ mpg | |
| 2010 | 27+ mpg | |
| 2015 | 29+ mpg | |
| 2020 | 30+ mpg | |
| 2026 | 31+ mpg |
So a 2015 car around 30 mpg was genuinely good for its time, even though a new car would need 32+ to earn the same badge. Shopping used? See the most efficient cars under $20k.
Good vs average vs bad MPG
A quick way to read any combined MPG number for a typical car — the rating, the yearly fuel bill it implies (15,000 mi at $3.50/gal) and what usually lands there:
| Combined MPG | Rating | ≈ Fuel / year | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45+ mpg | Excellent | ≈ $1,050 | Hybrids, efficient compacts |
| 30–44 mpg | Good | ≈ $1,500 | Efficient sedans, small SUVs, hybrids |
| 22–29 mpg | Average | ≈ $2,100 | Mainstream SUVs, larger cars |
| 16–21 mpg | Below avg | ≈ $2,917 | Full-size SUVs, trucks, V8s |
| Under 16 | Thirsty | ≈ $4,038 | Big trucks, performance, older cars |
These are EPA combined figures — your real-world MPG usually runs a few below. Measure yours with the MPG calculator, or see the thirsty end — the worst MPG cars & gas guzzlers.
What a good MPG saves you
Good MPG isn't just a number — it's money and emissions. Here's the yearly fuel bill, tailpipe CO₂ and 5-year fuel cost at each level (15,000 mi/yr, $3.50/gal):
| MPG | Fuel / year | CO₂ g/mi | 5-year fuel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A thirsty car | 18 mpg | 494 g/mi | $14,585 | |
| Average car | 24 mpg | 370 g/mi | $10,940 | |
| A good car | 30 mpg | 296 g/mi | $8,750 | |
| Excellent / hybrid | 48 mpg | 185 g/mi | $5,470 |
Going from an average 24-mpg car to a good 30-mpg one saves roughly $2,190 over five years and cuts CO₂ noticeably. Plug your own numbers into the MPG calculator.
What's a good MPGe (and range) for an EV?
Electric cars are rated in MPGe — miles per gallon of energy-equivalent. The 2026 EV averages about 87 MPGe with 313 miles of range; a good EV clears 102+ MPGe and 300+ miles, and the best reach 146 MPGe and 560 miles. See the most efficient EVs.
"Good MPG" keeps rising
What counts as good has moved. The average new car got roughly 20 mpg through the 2000s and now sits near 24 mpg — so today's "good" was yesterday's "excellent". See the full 40-year fuel-economy trend and the current best MPG cars.
How to improve your MPG
Below your car's rating? Most of the gap is habits and upkeep. The biggest wins:
- Ease off the pedal. Hard acceleration and speeds above 65 mph are the single biggest MPG killers — smooth driving alone can add 10–15%.
- Keep tires inflated. Under-inflated tires cost 1–3 mpg; check them monthly to the door-jamb spec.
- Drop dead weight & drag. Empty the trunk and take off roof racks when unused — extra weight and wind resistance both burn fuel.
- Stay on top of maintenance. A clean air filter, fresh oil and healthy spark plugs keep the engine at its rated efficiency.
- Cut idling & short trips. Idling gets 0 mpg; a cold engine is least efficient, so combine errands into one warm run.
- Use cruise on the highway. Steady speed beats constant throttle changes for economy.
Measure the difference with the MPG calculator — track a few tanks before and after.
Good MPG — frequently asked
What is a good MPG for a car?
For a 2026 car, a good combined figure is about 30+ mpg — above the 29-mpg class average. 48+ mpg is excellent and usually means a hybrid.
What is a good MPG for an SUV?
SUVs average about 26 mpg, so 27+ mpg is good and 36+ is excellent. Hybrid SUVs lead — see best MPG hybrid SUVs.
What is a good MPG for a truck?
Pickups average around 23 mpg; 23+ mpg is good for a truck. See best MPG trucks.
Is 30 MPG good?
Yes — 30 mpg is above the ~24-mpg average of a new car, so it's good for almost anything except a dedicated hybrid, where 40+ is the mark.
What is the average MPG of a car?
The average new 2026 vehicle gets about 24 mpg combined (gas and hybrid). It's risen steadily from ~20 mpg two decades ago.
What is a good MPG for a used car?
Judge it against its own era — the average car got about 24 mpg in 2015 versus 24 today. A good used car beats its year's average (see the by-year table).
What is a good MPG for a V8?
V8s average around 17 mpg, so anything above ~18–20 mpg is good for a V8 — you're trading economy for power. See the most efficient V8s.
How can I improve my gas mileage?
Drive smoothly and under 65 mph, keep tires inflated, drop extra weight and roof racks, stay current on maintenance, and cut idling. These habits can recover 10–15%. Full list above.