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Why Do European Cars Get Better MPG Than US Cars?

Jalopnik -- The European market has many more small, fuel-efficient car models than we get in America, but even European versions of international cars like the Jetta are rated at higher MPG numbers. We can explain why.

This question came up when Consumer Reports slammed Ford's Ecoboost motors and downsized turbo engines in general.

..
Part of that is that Imperial gallons are different than US gallons. 1 US gallon = .83 Imperial gallons. 45 US MPG = 54 Imp MPG. Or, 65 Imp MPG = 54 US MPG.

My Golf TDI gets right at 50 (US) on the highway, so it's right in the middle.

We would also point out that European cars don't go through the same tests as American cars do. The EPA's test attempts to mimic American driving conditions, while European cars go through a more European test.

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Submitted Feb 07, 2013 By: BurntOrange

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 8:06:42 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Europeans also drive more stick shift / manual transmissions. And the EPA is always "ESTIMATED" - a nice way of saying, "we don't really care how much mpg the vehicle gets, we just run a few tests on a testing stand and extrapolate. Since we do that for everyone, it should do the trick..."
BEGTWO Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,952 Points:726,090 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 8:35:10 AM Ignore BEGTWO Report Abuse OK
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,561 Points:749,995 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 8:22:40 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse different set of rating tests. EPA guidlines are used here in the US, not sure about Europe.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,777 Points:1,867,010 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:33:09 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse European engineering is superior. BMW is best !!!
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,792 Points:646,535 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:18:40 AM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse EPA?
richnc All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:575 Points:209,480 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:15:22 AM Ignore richnc Report Abuse I suspect they have smaller cars what get better mileage.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,229 Points:520,575 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:09:53 AM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Different standards, different results.
kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:3,978 Points:1,509,750 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:06:25 AM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse ok
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,502 Points:1,512,030 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:04:27 AM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse Different standards for the tests, cars and fuels. No ETOH blend - better mileage.
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,271 Points:590,335 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:54:23 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse I think walkingtall sums it up well!!!!
Beaveronparade Champion Author Hartford Posts:2,108 Points:636,785 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:53:44 PM Ignore Beaveronparade Report Abuse They make much smaller cars.
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,308 Points:1,465,580 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:49:56 PM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse Night and Day on either side of the Atlantic ;)
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,055 Points:1,360,360 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:46:20 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Because their considerations are practical and ours are corporate/ commercial interests.
Gazstation Champion Author Montreal Posts:4,113 Points:830,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:46:16 PM Ignore Gazstation Report Abuse "Europeans don't use gallons, duh......... How many F350s do you see on the autobahn?" You convert it to Km in liter.
wbpprint Veteran Author Chicago Posts:288 Points:1,406,625 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:45:37 PM Ignore wbpprint Report Abuse Is that where all our extra corn goes, or don't they use ethanol? Our winter blend here gives me 10-15% less mpg depending on the temps, the colder the worse the mileage. Our restrictions are killing our economy as well as the ethanol killing our cars.
herbiepopnecker Champion Author British Columbia Posts:13,611 Points:2,508,280 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:42:55 PM Ignore herbiepopnecker Report Abuse Europeans don't use gallons, duh......... How many F350s do you see on the autobahn?
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,860 Points:1,472,995 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:40:57 PM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse Just go to liters and we'll all have a standard. Ut-oh. I don't like that idea at all.
cssco Champion Author Virginia Posts:7,337 Points:1,753,480 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:38:39 PM Ignore cssco Report Abuse It is the result of a vast number of differences starting with the fact the Europeans lies are bigger and better than the average American fibs. Ever notice the World record for everything is European since the USSR has gone out of biz.
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,583 Points:1,774,295 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:37:04 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse Smoke and mirrors. By declaration. Some by Fiat.
NAVYHM All-Star Author Cleveland Posts:761 Points:1,387,205 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:36:09 PM Ignore NAVYHM Report Abuse BECAUSE THEY WANT TOO...
Gazstation Champion Author Montreal Posts:4,113 Points:830,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:36:07 PM Ignore Gazstation Report Abuse Lamborghini Countach 5mpg Hmmmm...
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,815 Points:821,260 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:35:49 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse At least our fuel prices are lower than they are in Europe...
NemoIL Champion Author Illinois Posts:3,035 Points:1,315,170 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:33:06 PM Ignore NemoIL Report Abuse Everyone knows that the Germans make the best cars.
GRUMPY55 Champion Author California Posts:1,629 Points:424,250 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:32:36 PM Ignore GRUMPY55 Report Abuse Smaller cars
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,479 Points:1,713,110 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:24:37 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Euro gas efficiency
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,150 Points:1,704,030 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:24:20 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse I don't know why, please tell me
PetroCrap Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:200 Points:108,575 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:24:00 PM Ignore PetroCrap Report Abuse Another major factor with European cars getting better gas mileage is that the average person needs the car to get the highest mileage possible, gas prices are considerably higher in Europe than they are here, Most of their cars are standard transmissions which get better mileage and because they look for smaller lighter cars they don't load them up with options that add weight, Europeans don't live in their cars, they don't need to take their living room on the road with them.
SNOWMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,172 Points:218,480 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:20:56 PM Ignore SNOWMI Report Abuse So you mean the fuel effiency is the same, huh?
btex49 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,730 Points:533,030 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:20:00 PM Ignore btex49 Report Abuse And generally speaking, the European cars are smaller and lighter.
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,574 Points:1,514,080 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:19:37 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Better workmanship, design, quality.
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,254 Points:1,687,150 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:18:03 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse Ok
mlmeng Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,645 Points:593,010 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:16:59 PM Ignore mlmeng Report Abuse walkingtall got it right.
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,479 Points:1,713,110 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:14:45 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse uhh the metric system?
Chuck11211960 Rookie Author Tucson Posts:51 Points:46,000 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:13:22 PM Ignore Chuck11211960 Report Abuse they don't have the US restrictions
BREW9 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:891 Points:2,914,780 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:12:44 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse small
Canucktree Champion Author Alberta Posts:4,906 Points:1,022,575 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:08:12 PM Ignore Canucktree Report Abuse Duh!?
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,093 Points:1,393,570 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:07:34 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Sounds reasonable.
Chas58 All-Star Author Detroit Posts:974 Points:286,465 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:05:52 PM Ignore Chas58 Report Abuse Smaller, lighter, and normally under-powered.
walkingtall Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,007 Points:1,123,590 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:05:39 PM Ignore walkingtall Report Abuse Why do European cars get better miles per gallon than United States cars?and also a number of european cars use diesel which also gets better fuel economy.
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,091 Points:2,472,165 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:05:27 PM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse Another issue is that while European clean air standards are catching ours.. they are still not as tight. Therefore... european engines do not have to labor under an enectronic shroud of sensors and valves to maintain clean air. Less labor = better mileage.
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:8,294 Points:1,676,480 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:05:06 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse There is more competion in Europe.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,932 Points:1,576,930 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 11:01:36 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse Duh, they are smaller
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,059 Points:1,489,805 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:58:28 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse It is the published ratings, not road mpg
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,075 Points:1,733,165 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:50:30 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse because GM is big here and not there
Bobmilan Champion Author Louisville Posts:1,210 Points:477,525 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:47:31 PM Ignore Bobmilan Report Abuse Apples to Oranges comparison. Different standards.
BrucePen Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,611 Points:1,363,790 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:44:40 PM Ignore BrucePen Report Abuse Smaller and they have more diesel motors.
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,117 Points:575,140 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:44:04 PM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse the question isn't do they get higher gas mileage,it's whether or not it actually offsets big earls price increases on fuel.
Barfood Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,311 Points:1,019,630 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:43:04 PM Ignore Barfood Report Abuse First sentence..."small"...
DCbeachbum Champion Author South Carolina Posts:2,647 Points:906,315 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:41:23 PM Ignore DCbeachbum Report Abuse Yes, the MPG should be different than Europe. The driving is quite different than in the US.
Taurus1 Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,135 Points:1,675,450 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:40:29 PM Ignore Taurus1 Report Abuse It depends on "who" makes the tests.