New car buyers are, on average, getting the same miles per gallon (mpg) from their petrol vehicles today as they were nearly two decades ago. Market analysis has revealed that the average fuel efficiency for a new petrol car currently stands at 47mpg, a figure identical to that recorded in 2006.
This stagnation in fuel economy comes despite significant technological advancements in engine design and vehicle manufacturing over the past 18 years. Experts suggest that while individual engine efficiency has improved, these gains have largely been offset by the growing consumer preference for larger, heavier vehicles, particularly Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
The popularity of SUVs has surged across the UK, with these models now constituting a substantial proportion of new car sales. While offering perceived benefits such as a higher driving position and increased interior space, SUVs typically weigh more and have greater aerodynamic drag than traditional hatchbacks or saloons, thus requiring more fuel to cover the same distance.
This trend means that despite manufacturers developing more fuel-efficient engines and incorporating technologies like stop-start systems and hybrid assistance in some models, the overall average for the new petrol car fleet has not moved. The increased mass and larger footprint of popular vehicles effectively cancel out the efficiency improvements seen in smaller, lighter cars.
For consumers, this translates to consistent fuel costs over time, as the real-world benefit of technological progress is not being realised at the pump. It also poses a challenge for environmental targets, as the lack of improvement in average fuel efficiency means emissions from petrol vehicles are not decreasing as rapidly as might be expected given the advancements in engine technology.