You are probably not the first new car owner who discovered that the fuel economy estimates found on the window sticker are not quite the same as the mileage you get in real-world driving.

Why new standards?

The fuel economy estimates were too optimistic. Beginning with the 2008 model year, they have introduced a more accurate method for estimating fuel economy.

So it was necessary to replace the old test because the cars as well as the driving have changed a lot in the 40 years since testing began. We drive at higher speeds on the highways, we have cars that can accelerate rapidly and modern cars carry plenty of accessories that consume energy.

The mileage estimates found on 2007 and older cars were determined using test procedures that were developed when this car was new and the driving environment was much different from today. Especially for the new hybrid cars and trucks the fuel economy ratings were unrealistic.

How to compare old cars and new ones?

The revised EPA tests may make it a bit harder to compare an old car with old test data to a newer car of the same make and model that was subject to the new tests. Under the new system, most cars will carry a significantly lower number than before.

This could create some confusion because you expect better numbers for a newer car don’t you? In the right sidebar you can find a simple EPA mileage calculator. Try it!

How does EPA test car fuel economy?

The following factors can lower your vehicle’s gas mileage:

• Aggressive driving (hard acceleration and braking)
• Excessive idling, accelerating, and braking in stop-and-go traffic
• Cold weather (engines are more efficient when warmed up)
• Driving with a heavy load or the air conditioner running
• Improperly tuned engine, dirty air filter, under-inflated tires

The tests are run in a controlled lab environment and cover different cycles that approximate driving in an urban environment, idling time, and high speed traffic. Add to that aggressive accelerations and the use of airco among other variables.

The fuel economy guide is published in print and on the Web at www.fueleconomy.gov.

Each vehicle in this guide has two fuel economy estimates:

A city estimate that represents urban driving, in which a vehicle is started in the morning (after being parked all night) and driven in stop-and-go traffic

A highway estimate that represents a mixture of rural and interstate highway driving in a warmed-up vehicle, typical of longer trips in free-flowing traffic

For the car buyer all that matters is that the new EPA gas mileage estimates are realistic. Remember that mileage will still vary based on your driving behavior and the road conditions.

A gas mileage chart will tell you the average of how many miles per gallon you will get in your car according to the road you are on. Typically, the charts will be available with the different cities you are in and will be able to track the miles that are on each road. This will be combined in relation to what this means with how much gas would be used on each route. Not only is this done by including the distances that are determined by each city in each state, but also by measurements that can be added together specifically through the charts.

When you begin to look into how your automobile will compare to the distance that you are traveling, you will want to look at the different options that are included in the chart. Typically, this will begin with a gas mileage MPG tracker. This will track the road that you are traveling on, and will compare this to the miles that are on this road as well as the gas mileage that will be used in the area. This is a simple way of comparing the miles per gallon that you will get in relation to the distance that you will travel.

With a gas mileage chart is not only ways to determine your distance, but also different tools that can be used in order to show what your averages will be. The most basic of these comes in an Excel spreadsheet and will be able to calculate distances according to the vehicle that you have. There are also things such as car logbooks, software that you can plug into your vehicle and air travel kits. With these charts, you will be able to take the specific make and model of your car and calculate the difference in miles per gallon with this. For instance, if you have an economy car, or are looking into SUVs, it will show you how this compares with travel.

By using these different tools, you will then be able to slide into the ability to determine how far you are traveling and how this will effect the amount of gas that you will be using. Beyond this, you will be able to estimate exactly how much you will be spending with road trips and smaller trips, such as when you are driving across town. The more you are able to calculate with these, the more capacities you will have for being able to drive down the right road.