Does Detroit Still Build Gas Guzzlers? Honda Brags About EPA Data That Shows That’s So

It wasn’t what Honda said in a Thursday press release – bragging that its 31.0 miles per gallon fleet average is best in the auto industry – that was most newsworthy. Or at least most caught my eye. It was the numbers contained in an accompanying chart that showed Detroit automakers at the bottom of the heap with the fuel economy; well below the industry average.

So, yes, Detroit still builds gas guzzling vehicles.

Citing a new U..S. Environmental Protection Agency Trends Report, Honda reported that its models were 3.8 miles per gallon better than the industry average of 27.2 mpg.

The poorest performers were Stellantis at 22.8 mpg, GM at 22.9 mph and Ford at 23.4 mpg. All were far below the industry average and all three automakers are known for their huge pickup truck models. The gap between leader Honda and bottom-dweller Stellantis was a significant 8.2 mpg.

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In addition to Honda, seven other brands surpassed the industry average for fuel efficiency. All but one were based in either Japan or Korea, including Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru and Mazda. German brand BMW was the lone one from Europe or North America to rank above the industry average.

In touting its top ranking, Honda also declared that it also “has maintained the affordability of its products, with an average transaction price for a new Honda vehicle of $35,060 in 2025, some $10,000 below the industry average.”

While the makeup of its model lineup certainly played a role in Honda’s high-mileage success, so did the model lineups of the Detroit manufacturers hurt their performances. Other manufacturers below the industry average were Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz.

(Photos courtesy of Honda.)