According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, a majority of Americans support stricter fuel economy regulations. The survey, conducted from August to September 2024, polled 2,191 U.S. adults, with 91% of respondents driving internal-combustion vehicles. The results suggest these car owners are keenly aware of the environmental and economic consequences of burning fossil fuels.
Fuel economy was the top priority for respondents across eight nationally representative surveys conducted by Consumer Reports over the past nine years. This bipartisan perspective held true, with majorities of both Democrats and Republicans saying automakers should continue to improve fuel efficiency.
Respondents also felt these improvements should be federally mandated, with 64% saying the government should continue to increase fuel economy standards. This sentiment likely stems from a lack of trust in automakers to improve efficiency on their own, as only 27% agreed that automakers care about lowering fuel costs.
While many Americans would consider paying more upfront for a hybrid if the fuel savings over the ownership period made up the extra cost, they represented a slimmer majority of just 52%.
Steadily increasing fuel-economy standards have already delivered significant savings for consumers, regardless of the vehicles they are buying. In a separate analysis, Consumer Reports found that tougher standards have provided over $9,000 in fuel savings compared to 2001 models. An additional $6,000 in savings could be achieved by the 2029 model year if current standards remain in place, the organization noted.
An update to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards confirmed in 2024 covers model years 2027-2031 and calls for fuel-economy improvements of just 2% for passenger cars and 2% for light trucks. The EPA estimates its corresponding rules will require 56% EVs by 2032, plus an additional 13% plug-in hybrids - a slower rollout than the 67% EV share originally proposed.
These small improvements could be threatened by an incoming Trump administration that favors Big Oil over reducing emissions. However, as Consumer Reports points out, such policies could also deprive voters of savings at the pump.
