The WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index shows the average fuel economy of light vehicles sold in the U.S. in the first half of 2017 was 25.4 mpg (9.3 L/100 km), 0.2% ahead of same-period 2016.
Low gas prices and other economic factors have swayed shoppers toward less-efficient vehicles overall. The share of cars has fallen while CUVs, SUVs and pickups showed growth. The impact of those larger models mostly countered the small upticks in share of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Cars sold in the first six months of the year averaged 30.2 mpg (7.8 L/100 km), up 0.9% from year-ago. Domestically built cars rose 0.7%, while imports rated 1.9% above year-ago.
Luxury cars were the most improved car segment over the period, jumping 2.9% to 28.3 mpg (8.3 L/100 km). Midsize cars gained 1.4% to reach 30.2 mpg (7.8 L/100 km).
Small and large car segments each showed a 0.4% decline, averaging 31.7 mpg (7.4 L/100 km) and 22.0 mpg (10.7 L/100 km), respectively.
Year-to-date, light trucks scored 22.4 mpg (10.5 L/100 km) on the index, a 2.1% gain on prior-year. The average rating for domestics increased 2.1% and imported models improved 1.4%.
CUVs, the highest-selling segment and best-rated truck category, improved 2.7% on the index, reaching 24.9 mpg (9.5 L/100 km). Vans bettered last year by 2.9% with a 20.9 mpg (11.3 L/100 km) result. Both have benefited from an increase in electrified-powertrain options.
Pickups recorded a smaller gain of 1.1% (18.6 mpg [12.7 L/100 km]). SUVs were the only truck segment to average lower than same-period 2016, slipping 1.0% to 18.7 mpg (12.6 L/100 km).
Kia showed the greatest year-to-date improvement, 5.5% higher than last year, helped mostly by the introduction of the Niro hybrid CUV.
The index results for Jaguar Land Rover also rose (4.1%) because of new product, but with diesel powertrains.
Mazda took the greatest fall, plummeting 4.9% compared with year-ago. The automaker continues to offer only standard gasoline models, and saw consumer interest shift away from small and midsize cars to CUVs, which generally are less fuel-efficient due to size.
If the industry-wide 6-month trend continues into second-half 2017, the year will end with the smallest year-over-year improvement seen in the 10-year history of the index.
