If you’re driving a gasoline car today, you’re in the majority, but the ground under your feet is shifting. Fuel prices, new emissions rules, rapid EV adoption, and a growing used‑EV market are changing what “makes sense” financially and practically for everyday drivers.
Gas isn’t gone, but it is changing
Gasoline cars will stay on U.S. roads well into the 2030s, but regulations, technology, and used‑vehicle values are all moving in favor of more efficient options, especially EVs and hybrids.
Gasoline car basics in 2025
A gasoline car uses an internal combustion engine (ICE) that burns fuel, creating power, and exhaust. It’s a mature technology with a vast support network: nearly every mechanic can work on it, and there are gas stations on almost every corner. That familiarity is a big reason many drivers stick with gas even as electric vehicles grab headlines.
- Most new non‑luxury gasoline cars average around 29 mpg today, with federal rules pushing that higher over the next decade.
- The U.S. national average gas price in mid‑November 2025 is roughly $3.07 per gallon, with some states well above $4 and others under $3.
- Gasoline cars still dominate new‑vehicle sales, but EV and hybrid market share is rising every year, and some brands have already announced end dates for new ICE models.
Where you live matters
Gasoline can cost under $2.60 a gallon in states like Oklahoma and close to $5 in parts of California or Hawaii. When you compare a gasoline car to an EV, always run the numbers based on your local energy prices, not just national averages.
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Cost to own a gasoline car vs an EV
When shoppers compare a gasoline car to an EV, they usually look at the sticker price, and stop there. That’s a mistake. The real story is in total cost of ownership: purchase price, depreciation, fuel or electricity, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and fees over several years.
