What Are the Worst MPG Vehicles in 2025?
The 2025 worst mpg vehicles are dominated by large trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-performance models that prioritize power and payload over efficiency. The EPA's latest fuel economy data shows that several 2025 models fall below 15 mpg combined, with some heavy-duty pickups and luxury SUVs dipping below 12 mpg in city driving. These figures come from official EPA testing and manufacturer certification, and they are used by consumers and fleet buyers to compare real-world fuel costs. The models with the lowest combined mpg typically feature large-displacement engines, all-wheel drive, and heavy frames that increase rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. According to the EPA's 2025 fuel economy guide, the lowest-efficiency vehicles are concentrated in the full-size pickup and large SUV segments, where buyers often accept low mpg in exchange for towing capacity and interior space. The ranking of the worst mpg vehicles changes slightly each year as manufacturers update engines, add hybrid or mild-hybrid systems, or introduce new trim levels that alter weight and aerodynamics.
For consumers tracking fuel costs, the worst mpg vehicles can cost thousands of dollars more in gasoline over five years compared with efficient alternatives. The U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov tool lets users compare 2025 models side by side using official EPA mpg figures, annual fuel cost estimates, and greenhouse gas scores. Fleet managers and lease departments also use these numbers to calculate total cost of ownership and comply with corporate sustainability targets. In 2025, the gap between the most and least efficient vehicles remains wide, with some models scoring above 40 mpg combined while others struggle to reach 10 mpg combined. This spread is driven by vehicle class, engine type, transmission, drivetrain, and aerodynamic design, with the largest, heaviest, and most powerful vehicles occupying the bottom of the mpg rankings. Buyers who prioritize low running costs or environmental impact can use the EPA data to avoid the worst mpg vehicles and focus on models that meet their efficiency goals.
Which 2025 Models Rank at the Bottom of the MPG List?
Among the 2025 worst mpg vehicles, full-size heavy-duty pickups such as the Ford F-450, Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD, and Ram 4500 consistently rank at the bottom of EPA combined mpg ratings. These models use large-displacement V8 engines, often paired with automatic transmissions and four-wheel drive, which increases weight and reduces efficiency. The EPA combined mpg for these heavy-duty pickups typically ranges from about 10 to 13 mpg, with city figures sometimes falling below 9 mpg when tested with optional configurations that add weight. In the SUV segment, large luxury and off-road-oriented models such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and certain trims of the Cadillac Escalade ESV also appear near the bottom of the 2025 mpg rankings. These vehicles feature powerful V8 engines, heavy bodies, and boxy shapes that create significant aerodynamic drag, all of which contribute to low mpg figures. According to the EPA's 2025 fuel economy data, the lowest-efficiency SUVs often achieve combined mpg in the low teens, with city mpg sometimes dropping into the single digits for models with optional tow packages and off-road equipment.
Performance cars and large luxury sedans also show up among the 2025 worst mpg vehicles, especially those with high-output engines or all-wheel-drive systems. Models from brands such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz with large-displacement engines or plug-in hybrid configurations that rarely charge can fall below 20 mpg combined in real-world EPA testing. The EPA ratings reflect standardized test cycles, but real-world mpg can be even lower when drivers use high-performance modes, tow heavy loads, or operate in stop-and-go traffic. For buyers considering these models,