How do car makers calculate their cars' city/highway miles per gallon?
by 
raymond huang
ANSWERS: 3
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It is measured in a lab using a dynamometer. They follow both a city and highway cycle prescribed by the EPA. That is why it is listed as EPA mileage.
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They base mpg on one gallon of gasoline, on flat laboratory rollers, at 30 mph. not very realistic, since no one goes 30 mph, anymore. its all a shot in the dark. For a realistic mpg, take the advertised high mpg and the low mpg, add the two figures and divide by two.
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The designers are privey to how much the car weighs, air dynamics and engine size needed for retail appeal.. and such so as to build a car with a certain range of gas mileage. The actual statistics are documented as in the other answers.
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