Is Your Car's MPG as Advertised?

In response to a growing realization that vehicle fuel economy is far less than advertised, the Union of Concerned Scientists has launched a "citizen survey" to document the discrepancy. The survey aims to gauge the disparity between actual fuel mileage and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's official estimates. According to UCS, EPA's 30-year-old system causes consumers to spend some $20 billion more on gasoline each year than would be assumed from their window stickers.

UCS is asking drivers around the country to monitor their gas mileage and driving habits, and then send that information to UCS and EPA. UCS hopes to take advantage of the agency's public comment period on its testing procedures that's now running through July 27. The survey is online at www.suvsolutions.org.