Americans Want Automakers to Improve Fuel Economy

Washington, DCA recent survey by Consumer Reports confirms that most Americans want automakers -- not only Ford-- to improve and increase fuel economy on every type of vehicle.

Consumer Reports Survey

The August, 2019 Automotive Fuel Economy Survey shows that 88 percent of Americans want automakers to continue to improve fuel economy and 86 percent want improvement for all vehicle types but only 34 percent think automakers actually care about lowering fuel costs for their customers. As well,

• 86 percent agree that "making larger vehicles such as SUVs or trucks more fuel efficient is important.”

• 80 percent agree that “increasing average fuel economy from 25 miles per gallon (MPG) today to 40 MPG by 2025 is a worthwhile goal.”

• 65 percent agree that “the U.S. government should continue to increase fuel-efficiency standards and enforce them, while only 17 percent disagree.”

• 39 percent of Americans think that automakers care about lowering fuel costs for their customers, and 27 percent are unsure.

Key takeaways from this national survey that was conducted in July to assess Americans’ attitudes and viewpoints regarding vehicle fuel economy are that large SUV or pickup truck drivers are much more likely to buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle with their next purchase.

• Drivers of vehicles averaging less than 20 MPG are more than twice as likely (53 percent as drivers of vehicles averaging 30 MPG or more (20 percent) to select fuel economy as an attribute most in need of improvement.

• Drivers of Large SUVs and Pickup Trucks are about twice as likely as drivers of small or midsize vehicles to select fuel economy as a desired improvement attribute.

• 73 percent of Large SUV or Pickup Truck drivers express an interest in getting a vehicle that is more fuel-efficient, regardless of their current vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

When consumers were asked which attributes have the most room for improvement, fuel economy ranked first. But just over half of those surveyed want the government to enforce fuel-efficiency standards and goals.

Ford and MPG

The typical way to find out a vehicle’s MPG information before buying or leasing it is from the window sticker at the dealership. The second most common way is research online. The survey showed that 16 percent of vehicle owners did not get any information about their vehicle’s MPG before leasing or purchasing it. And many Ford truck owners say their actual MPG doesn’t match up with the window sticker. On its website, Ford says that “your truck’s MPG rating is based on verifiable testing designed around average driving conditions. From these test results, the sticker lists the EPA estimated MPG.” And then Ford lists “simple stuff” to help your truck’s MPG. But Ford truck drivers aren’t buying it.

Instead, they are filing Ford fuel economy lawsuits. And they most likely aren’t going to trust Ford next time they shop for a new car or truck.