What’s a Good Mileage for a Used Car?

Whether you’re shopping for a brand-new car or prefer a used one, fuel efficiency is often one of the most critical factors in deciding which model to buy. Finding an efficient used car that works for your lifestyle can often be a challenge, and it’s not as simple as just choosing one with the best mileage. If this were the case, everyone would be in a compact hybrid. But this type of small car does not fit every need. Many drivers need larger vehicles to carry family or gear but still need something efficient to help save on fuel costs.

Few buying guides provide information about how the powertrain, style, and design of different cars affects gas mileage. To help, we’ve put together some information to help you determine what to look for in a used car when fuel consumption rate is one of your primary interests.

What Are the Different Powertrain Options?

If fuel economy is one of your main concerns when choosing a used car, you’ll want to start by looking at the different types of powertrains. Whether you need a full-size sedan, an SUV, or a sleek little compact, you have several choices.

Hybrid Used Cars

A hybrid powertrain combines a gas engine with an electric motor. These have a battery to power the motor, which uses regenerative braking to stay charged, so there is no need to plug it in. Some of the most efficient used hybrids on the market include the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

You also have plug-in hybrid vehicles. These also have a gas engine and an electric motor, with a battery to power the motor. Plug-in hybrids don’t use regenerative braking; instead, you need to charge the battery using an outlet or charging equipment. These often run on electric power until the battery is almost completely depleted. Then the engine automatically switches to using gas power.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is an efficient plug-in hybrid vehicle. Depending on the model year, it can get up to 32 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in the city, which is excellent for a used small SUV.

Diesel-Powered Used Cars

Diesel-powered used cars are another fuel-efficient option. Although not as good as a hybrid powertrain, these are often up to 30% more efficient than a gas engine. Some of the used diesel cars you can find include the BMW 335d, the Audi A3 TDI, and the Jetta SportWagen TDI.

Gas-Powered Used Cars

The least efficient used cars on the road are gas-powered vehicles. If your only concern is fuel efficiency and you don’t need a lot of space, some lightweight, compact, and subcompact used cars offer good gas mileage. The Mitsubishi Mirage can get up to 36 mpg in the city and up to 43 mpg on the highway. A used compact Mirage G4 is also still efficient. It works on a continuously variable automatic transmission that helps it get up to 35 mpg in the city and up to 41 mpg on the highway.

What Does Good Mileage for a Used Car Look Like?

There are a lot of factors that affect your car’s fuel efficiency. Good gas mileage is relative and depends largely on what kind of car you have and how you drive it. Car buyers looking to get into a Corvette or other performance vehicle are probably not as concerned about gas mileage as someone looking for a commuter vehicle to get them to work 30 miles away from home every day.

When shopping for a used car, its history will affect its future gas mileage. Make sure to get the maintenance records from the owner before purchasing. If you see that they had the oil changed regularly and performed other preventive maintenance on schedule, it will give you an idea of what condition the engine is likely to be in. Even if a car has done a lot of distance, if it was maintained correctly, the number of miles won’t affect the mpg.

How Can I Improve My Used Car’s Gas Mileage?

If you’re not getting the gas mileage you need, you can take a few steps to improve it.

Clear Out the Clutter

While there are some things you need to keep in your car, there’s probably a lot you can take out. Take out extra sports equipment, kids’ backpacks, and other clutter to reduce the weight. You can also remove roof racks you are no longer using, take off bike racks, or get a rear-mounted cargo box instead of a roof-mounted one. Removing as little as 100 pounds can reduce your mileage.

Drive at the Speed Limit

Once you hit speeds over 50 mph, your car’s fuel efficiency begins to drop. The faster you go, the less efficient it becomes. The best way to get good mileage is to drive at the speed limit and keep a steady speed. Use cruise control when possible, and try to avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.

Check the Tire Pressure

Underinflated tires lead to poor fuel economy. Check them regularly to make sure they are properly inflated. You can check the owner’s manual or look at the tire wall to find the correct PSI for the tires.

Avoid Idling

If you’ve driven a newer model car lately, you’ve probably noticed the stop-start system that turns the car off when you’re sitting at a traffic light. It takes more fuel to idle than to restart it, and a car can give off twice as much pollution when idling compared to when in motion.

Good gas mileage for a used car depends on your vehicle type. Good mileage looks very different for a full-size SUV than for a compact sedan. However, if you need more space, you’ll have to sacrifice some fuel efficiency for extra seating and cargo room. Come visit us at Performance Mitsubishi to find a fuel-efficient used car, whether it’s the compact Mirage, a capable Outlander PHEV, or a used vehicle from another manufacturer.

Mitsubishi Phev Outlander by David Nealon is licensed by CC BY 2.0