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Cars

Sat Oct 3 2026

Happy Saturday from the USA TODAY Cars team!

I'm Keith Laing, and I report on automotive news, conduct vehicle reviews and write consumer advice for USA TODAY. If you have topic suggestions, consumer advice, maintenance questions or general queries, you can reach me at klaing@usatodayco.com.

Here's why your next car should be more fuel efficient

We've talked here before about the fact that gas is very expensive right now.

The average price of gas on Friday, Oct. 2, was $4.39, according to AAA. That's up from an average of $4.12 one month ago on Sept. 2, and an average of $3.15 one year ago on Oct. 2, 2025.

Despite the rising gas prices, President Donald Trump's administration announced plans this week to weaken federal rules for the fuel efficiency of cars that were set to require automakers to produce fleets that averaged over 50 mpg by 2031. Under Trump's new proposal, the requirement will go down to less than 35 mpg.

Polls show fuel efficiency is usually a secondary concern for car shoppers. It ranked seventh among factors driving consideration of non-luxury car models in the first half of 2026, according to a study from Cox Automotive.

But with gas remaining above $4 a gallon and a possible 15 mpg decrease in the fuel efficiency requirement of most cars on the horizon, here's four reasons experts at GreenCars.com say you should consider how many miles per gallon your next model gets before you make the purchase.

•	Save money on gas: The NHTSA says getting 15 mpg less on a car could cost you over $1,600 over the life of owning your car. The agency says in a separate analysis the average age of a car on U.S. roads is nearly 13 years old. That translates to about extra $123 per year in gas.
•	Fill up less frequently: If your car has a 15-gallon tank, you'd get about 525 miles on a fillup at 35 mpg. That same tank would get you over 750 miles at 50 mpgs. It's important to note carmakers only averaged about 25 mpg last year, which translates to about 375 miles on a single tank, according to the EPA.
•	More incentives: Several states offer incentives for electric cars and other fuel-efficient vehicles like hybrids.
•	Better resale value: With drivers searching for gas savings wherever they can find them, fuel efficient models are likely to have higher resale value.

Now, it's your turn: How much did you consider fuel efficiency the last time you shopped for a new car? How are high gas prices changing how much you'll consider it in your next purchase? Email me at klaing@usatodayco.com to let me know.

Take a spin through cars

•	We took a look at how much state gas tax suspension - and potential federal holiday - would actually help drivers at the pump.
•	I reviewed the 2026 Mazda CX-5 and my colleague Charles Singh reviewed the 2027 Kia Carnival. Charles also took a look at the 2027 Hyundai Tucson unveiling this week.
•	The number of EV charging ports in states are on the rise, but more drivers are opting for hybrids these days.
•	Charles took a look at the best commuter cars you can buy now, starting at as low as $22,000.

You take the wheel

We're working on a story about how people who are in the market for family vehicles are navigating the car market with average prices topping $50,000. Have the high prices influenced a buying decision for you? If so, how much did it weigh into your decision? And finally, what did you decide to buy?

Email me at klaing@usatodayco.com and share your advice for anyone who is in the car market at this time of elevated gas prices.

Thanks for reading this week. What would you like to see in our next newsletter? Email me your feedback or connect with me on LinkedIn.