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The WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index shows light vehicles sold in January averaged 25.4 mpg (9.2 L/100 km), 1.1% higher than same-month 2016.
The national average price of a gallon of gasoline was $2.458, up 3.9% from prior-month and 19.5% from year-ago. Compared with January 2016, the share of standard gasoline-powered vehicles was down from 95.9% to 94.2%. All alternative power types showed small gains, with plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles doubling share to a combined 1.2% of sales.
General Motors scored a record-high 23.7 mpg (9.9 L/100 km) on the index. The company’s rating was boosted the Chevrolet Bolt, which hit 1,162 units in its first full month of availability.
Jaguar Land Rover also showed a small uptick, reaching a best-ever 21.2 mpg (11.1 L/100 km) with increased sales of its diesel lineup, especially the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
BMW achieved the greatest year-over-year growth, 4.0%, by increasing share of its EVs and PHEVs. Higher sales of electrified vehicles could not save Daimler from the effect of customer interest in other larger, conventionally-powered models, which brought the automaker’s index score down 2.7% from year-ago.
The index rating for all cars sold in January was 30.4 mpg (7.7 L/100 km), 3.0% better than year-ago. Luxury cars took the greatest leap, up 8.4%, helped by sales of PHEVs, EVs, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
Light trucks scored an all-time high of 22.5 mpg (10.5 L/100 km), up 2.5% from like-2016. CUVs were the main upward force, improving 3.3% to 24.9 mpg (9.4 L/100 km).
Imported vehicles rated 0.6% below January 2016, while domestics rated 1.4% higher.
