Honda is the most fuel-efficient automaker in the United States, according to the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Automotive Trends Report. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of fuel economy and vehicle technology data across the U.S. light-duty vehicle market from 1975 through 2024, with preliminary 2025 data.
Since 1975, the EPA has collected data on every new light-duty vehicle model sold in the U.S., either from testing conducted at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, or directly from manufacturers using official EPA test procedures.
The vehicle with the best fuel economy when the report debuted in 1976 was the 1975 Honda Civic with a real-world fuel economy of 28.3 mpg. Now 50 years later, the EPA report shows the preliminary leader for gasoline vehicles is the 2025 Honda Civic at 36.6 combined mpg.
Overall, Honda has the highest fleet-average fuel economy among automakers that offer a full range of gasoline and electrified vehicles. Honda’s U.S. fleet now averages 31 miles per gallon, which is 3.8 mpg above the industry average, according to the latest EPA data.
Rising cost of new vehicles
Honda remains as competitive as ever
The news can only be good for Honda, as the average new vehicle price today is trending at or above $50,000. Vehicle ownership costs, combined with the cost of living in general in 2026, mean that even a six-figure salary may feel like it’s not enough.
The average price for a new Honda in 2025 was $35,060, well under the $50,000 national average.
While Honda’s entry-level prices are competitive, some of its most popular models remain under the national average even in their top trim levels.
For example, the top-tier Touring Hybrid configuration for the 2026 Honda Accord starts under $41,000. The stylish and well-equipped 2026 Ridgeline Black Edition starts under $49,000, while the EX-L trim for the 2026 HR-V, one of the smartest buys on the new-vehicle market today, starts around $31,000.
While there are other fuel-efficient automakers with affordable vehicles, Honda’s industry-leading fuel economy and reasonable starting MSRPs will likely sway some families who are trying to shop for a car while also juggling multiple responsibilities and the household budget.
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Fuel economy and vehicle size
Improvements to one, increases to the other
Key takeaways from the latest EPA Automotive Trends Report include how the average real-world fuel economy for new vehicles reached a record-best 27.2 mpg. Overall fuel economy has increased by 41% since 2004.
The EPA report noted that the market continues to shift away from sedans and wagons (now less than a 25% share) toward SUVs, which now account for 60% of all production. Light trucks collectively (classified as pickups, vans, and SUVs) reached an all-time high production share of 66% in 2024.
While individual vehicle types are becoming more efficient, the overall shift toward larger, heavier vehicles has partially offset the fuel-economy gains from new technology, the EPA concluded in its report.
On the performance side, average horsepower has increased by 23% while vehicle weight has increased by 6% across the automotive industry since 2004. The EPA’s report found that the average 2024 model-year vehicle reached 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, while the average vehicle size (i.e., footprint) has increased by 5.4% since 2008, reaching 51.5 square feet.
For a visual sense of scale, 51.5 square feet is roughly the size of a standard king-sized mattress plus a nightstand.
Shifting regulatory landscape
In February 2026, the EPA finalized a rulemaking that eliminated greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. Consequently, this latest edition of the Automotive Trends Report excludes the manufacturer’s greenhouse gas regulatory compliance data from previous years.
Despite the shifting federal landscape, Honda remains committed to its Triple Action to ZERO sustainability initiative. The automaker’s strategy, which aims to achieve zero environmental impact for its operations by 2050, is driven by three pillars: carbon neutrality, clean energy usage, and total resource circulation. Honda’s Saitama Factory in Japan is on track to become its first carbon-neutral plant by the end of March 2026.
