The Worst Gas Mileage Cars and Trucks (and What They Cost You)

The worst gas mileage vehicles are performance V8s and V12s (some rated ~10–13 mpg combined), full-size V8 trucks and three-row SUVs (~13–17 mpg), and older large vehicles generally. At 15,000 miles a year, a 13-mpg vehicle costs roughly $2,000+ more in fuel annually than a 30-mpg car.

Fuel economy is the used-car cost most shoppers underestimate: over five years of typical driving, the gap between a 13-mpg vehicle and a 30-mpg one is easily $10,000 at the pump. This guide ranks the categories and specific models with the worst fuel consumption, using EPA-style combined figures (all hedged with '~' because real-world results vary with driving, condition, and fuel).

None of this means never buy a thirsty vehicle — a V8 truck that tows or a performance car that thrills can be worth every gallon. It means buy with open eyes: know the real combined number for the exact model year and drivetrain (they vary more than badges suggest), and check it before you sign, not at your first fill-up.

How we ranked this list

EPA combined-economy figures, drawn from fueleconomy.gov data patterns for representative model years — always verify the exact year/drivetrain.
Real-world ownership impact — annual fuel cost at typical mileage, not just the sticker number.
Category coverage — we rank the classes of thirsty vehicles, with representative models in each.
Used-market prevalence — how likely a shopper is to actually encounter each one.
Fuel-grade requirements — several picks require premium, compounding the per-mile cost.

Exotic and V12 performance cars (2000–2026) — ~10–14 mpg combined typical · Premium fuel required · Gas-guzzler tax applied when new · Fuel is the least of the running costs
The bottom of every EPA table: V12 grand tourers and exotics like Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, and Lamborghini V12 models rate as low as ~10–14 mpg combined, on premium fuel, often with gas-guzzler tax baked into the original sticker. Depreciated examples tempt aspirational buyers — but the fuel bill is the cheapest line item in ownership, which tells you everything about the rest.
Supercharged V8 muscle (Hellcat-era Dodge, Shelby GT500) (2015–2023) — ~13–16 mpg combined; far less driven hard · Premium fuel required · Deep used supply post-discontinuation · Pair the fuel math with an abuse/history check
The 700+ hp supercharged era produced spectacular window stickers in both senses: Hellcat Chargers and Challengers rate around ~13–16 mpg combined, and hard driving halves that. These are common used buys now, which makes two checks essential — the fuel budget, and a history report, because this cohort's accident and abuse statistics are among the worst on the road.
Full-size V8 trucks (older and performance variants) (2000–2026) — ~14–17 mpg combined typical; performance trims ~10–12 · Older (2000s) V8 trucks often worse · Justified by towing/payload — not by commuting · Check exact year/engine on fueleconomy.gov before buying
The volume champion of bad economy: V8 half-tons like the Tundra 5.7 (~14–15 mpg combined), Ram 1500 5.7, F-150 5.0, and Silverado 6.2 cluster in the ~14–17 range, and 2000s-era trucks or off-road trims run lower still — the Raptor R and TRX sit near ~10–12. Trucks earn their thirst when they tow; the mistake is commuting solo in one and wondering where the paycheck goes.
Large three-row V8 SUVs (Escalade, Suburban, Armada, Sequoia V8) (2000–2024) — ~14–17 mpg combined; low teens in city use · The most commonly bought thirsty category · Hybrid three-row alternatives cut fuel cost ~40%+ · Verify the specific year's rating — it varies widely
Body-on-frame family haulers with V8s — Escalade, Suburban/Yukon XL 6.2, Armada 5.6, pre-hybrid Sequoia — rate roughly ~14–17 mpg combined, and city school-run duty drags real-world numbers toward the low teens. These are exactly the vehicles families buy used in volume, so the five-year fuel delta versus a hybrid three-row (often 20+ mpg better) belongs in the purchase math.
Heavy-duty gas trucks (2500/3500, F-250 gas) (2005–2026) — No EPA rating (over 8,500 lb GVWR) · Owner-reported ~10–13 mpg typical · Only justified by real heavy towing · No window-sticker MPG — research before buying
A quiet trap: heavy-duty pickups over 8,500 lb GVWR aren't EPA-rated at all, so listings show no MPG — and owners routinely report ~10–13 mpg from big-gas HD engines. Buyers who only need half-ton capability sometimes buy HDs because used prices look similar; the pump corrects them monthly. If you don't tow heavy regularly, an HD gas truck is paying for capacity you'll never use.
Older large luxury SUVs (2000s Range Rover, LX 470/570, G-Class) (2000–2015) — ~12–15 mpg combined, premium fuel common · Cheap to buy, expensive to feed and fix · Aging engines often underperform original ratings · Service history + VIN check essential at this age
Depreciation makes 2000s-era luxury flagships look like bargains: $15k Range Rovers, LX 470s, old G-Wagens. Their economy did not depreciate — ~12–15 mpg combined on premium fuel is the norm, and aging emissions equipment often makes real-world numbers worse. The fuel bill is also a preview: these are the used vehicles where deferred maintenance hides, so history and service records matter doubly.
Performance German SUVs (AMG/M/RS V8 models) (2012–2026) — ~14–17 mpg combined, premium required · Steep depreciation lures in unprepared buyers · Consumables (tires/brakes) scale with the fuel bill · Check history — performance SUVs get driven hard
AMG GLE 63s, BMW X5 Ms, Cayenne Turbos and their kin combine 500+ hp twin-turbo V8s with 5,000+ lb curb weights for ~14–17 mpg combined — on premium, driven gently, which they never are. Used prices fall fast enough to tempt buyers into running costs designed for the original owner's income. Budget fuel, tires, and brakes together; they arrive together.
V8 muscle and pony cars (Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Challenger R/T) (2005–2026) — ~17–19 mpg combined typical · Most commonly daily-driven V8 category · Regular fuel OK on some (check the specific engine) · Fuel math: ~$1,000+/yr more than a 30-mpg car
The attainable end of the V8 spectrum: Mustang GTs, Camaro SSs, and Challenger R/Ts rate around ~17–19 mpg combined — better than everything above, still nearly double the fuel cost of a four-cylinder commuter. They make this list as the thirsty cars people actually daily-drive on ordinary budgets. Know the number going in and they're a fair trade; discover it afterward and they're a resentment machine.

Buying tips

Look up the exact model year and drivetrain on fueleconomy.gov before buying — the same nameplate can vary by 5+ mpg across engines and years, and listings routinely quote the best variant's number.
Do the five-year math: at 15,000 miles/year and ~$3.50/gallon, a 14-mpg vehicle costs about $3,750/year in fuel versus ~$1,750 for a 30-mpg car — a ~$10,000 gap over five years, often more than the price difference between the vehicles.
Check the fuel-grade requirement. Premium adds roughly $0.40–$0.80 per gallon; on a 14-mpg vehicle that's hundreds per year on top of the volume penalty.
A thirsty vehicle that underperforms its rating may be telling you something — neglected maintenance, dragging brakes, or tune history all hurt economy. A vehicle history report showing consistent care is worth real money on high-consumption vehicles.
You can check the EPA fuel economy for a specific used vehicle by VIN — decode it to confirm the exact engine and drivetrain, then match it to the correct rating rather than the seller's optimistic memory.
If the thirsty vehicle is a want rather than a need, price the alternative honestly: hybrid three-rows and turbo-six trucks now cover most V8 use cases at 30–50% lower fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

What car has the worst gas mileage?

Among recent vehicles, V12 exotics and ultra-luxury cars (some Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce models) sit at the bottom at roughly 10–13 mpg combined. Among mainstream vehicles, supercharged muscle cars and off-road performance trucks like the Ram TRX (~10–12 mpg) are the thirstiest.

How much does bad gas mileage actually cost?

At 15,000 miles per year and ~$3.50/gallon, every mpg matters more at the bottom of the scale: a 13-mpg vehicle burns about $4,000/year, a 20-mpg one about $2,600, and a 30-mpg one about $1,750. Over five years, the worst offenders cost $10,000+ more in fuel than an efficient alternative.

Why do trucks and big SUVs get such bad mileage?

Mass, aerodynamics, and drivetrain losses: a 6,000-lb body-on-frame vehicle with the aero profile of a brick and a big V8 fights physics at every stoplight and every highway mile. Towing capability requires that hardware — which is why thirst is justified for towers and wasted on commuters.

How do I check the real fuel economy of a used car before buying?

Decode the VIN to confirm the exact engine and drivetrain, then look up that configuration's EPA rating on fueleconomy.gov — don't trust listing claims. Our MPG-by-VIN lookup automates this, and a history report confirms the maintenance record that determines whether the car still achieves its rating.

Are there thirsty vehicles that are still worth buying?

Absolutely — a V8 truck that genuinely tows, or a performance car that's a deliberate, budgeted choice. The mistake isn't buying a low-MPG vehicle; it's buying one without doing the annual fuel math first, or buying more truck than the actual use case requires.