According to the Consumer Federation of America, the percentage of vehicles overall getting at least 23 mpg hit a record 50.5 percent for the 2014 model-year. With gas prices rising, this is especially good news for drivers of gas guzzling SUVs and pickups.<\/p>\n
Over half of the vehicles sold this year deliver over 23 mpg, with one in nine topping 30 mpg, the study showed.<\/p>\n
Even some traditional gas guzzlers are now yielding mileage once considered a stretch for small cars, industry and government data reveals, though automakers still face a stretch achieving the 54.5 mpg target facing them in 2025, observers warn.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been remarkable,\u201d said Mark Cooper, research director for the Consumer Federation of America, which has been tracking fuel economy trends for over a decade. After years of relatively stagnant mileage, the increased federal fuel economy rules passed in 2005 have been paying off, he said, calling it a \u201cgreat example\u201d of how industry can respond to mandates backed by public support.<\/p>\n