Knowing the average weight of your car can be an excellent source of information for several reasons. Fuel efficiency and emissions can be higher or lower based on car weight. Safety is also another concern, with lighter vehicles faring worse in collisions than heavier vehicles. It also gives you an idea of your payload, and any specific tools you may need for maintenance. So how much does the average car weigh? Let’s break it down into the popular car types and models, compared by category.
Quick Answer
On average, a compact car weighs 2,900lbs. A full-size sedan weighs 3,880lbs. An SUV weighs 4,400 lbs. A pickup truck weighs 5,000lbs. Electric vehicles weigh around 3,750lbs. the difference in vehicle weight depends largely on the size of the engine, the size of the vehicle, and the parts used during production of the vehicle. Electric vehicles (EV) have a wide variation in weight due to the multitude of different styles and models. There are compact-sized EVs as well as EV trucks and SUVs. Average car weight, with examples, are as follows:
- Compact car (Toyota Corolla): 2,800lbs
- Full-size sedan (Nissan Maxima): 3,550lbs
- SUV (Jeep Grand Cherokee): 4,800lbs
- Pickup truck (Ford F150): 4,800lbs
- Electric Vehicle (Tesla Model S): 4,900lbs
With so many different styles and models of cars, it can be difficult to understand the average weight of a car. Breaking it down by models and category will help you understand the weight of the average vehicle in each category.
Contents
How Much Does A Compact Car Weigh?
Compact cars are made more for commuting, rather than comfort or space. They are an excellent choice for city driving, where parking may be tight or limited. The following are the most popular compact cars, with details.
1. How Much Does a Mazda 3 Weigh?
The Mazda 3 can come in two styles: sedan and hatchback. The Mazda 3 ranges in weight from 3,071lbs to 3,255lbs. It gets 24-27 mpg city, and 32-36 mpg highway. It’s considered a well-rounded vehicle that combines safety, a classy look, and advanced technology including smartphone integration and collision warning.
2. How Much Does a Honda Civic Weigh?
Like the Mazda, Honda Civics body can be a sedan or a hatchback. A Honda Civic ranges in weight from 2,762lbs to 3,121lbs. It has a long list of safety features including automatic high beam and forward collision warning. The Honda Civic gets 22-32 mpg city, and 28-42 mpg highway.
3. How Much Does a Volkswagen GTI Weigh?
The Volkswagen GTI ranges in weight from 3,133 to 3,210 pounds. Like the Honda Civic, the Volkswagen GTI is considered fun to drive with a turbocharged engine and agility-filled handling. It has larger cargo room than most compact cars, but its fuel economy is considered subpar. It gets 23-24 mpg in the city and 30-32 mpg highway.
4. How Much Does a Toyota Corolla Weigh?
The Toyota Corolla comes in two versions: sedan and hatchback. The weight ranges from 2,910 to 3,150 pounds. The Corolla isn’t as fast as the GTI or Civic, but it has excellent gas mileage and comes with an extensive list of standard safety features. The corolla gets 29-31 mpg city and 36-40 mpg highway.
5. How Much Does a Hyundai Veloster Weigh?
The Hyundai Veloster has five options for trim, and even offers a special high-performance N configuration. Its weight ranges from 2,701 to 3,247 pounds. The Veloster gets 27-28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. This number drops by about 1-2 mpg for manual transmission models. The Veloster also offers a long list of standard and optional advanced safety features.
How Much Does A Full-Size Sedan Weigh?
Full-size sedans are great for cruising over long distances. They get decent gas mileage and offer a roomier cabin than a compact car. They aren’t too big for the city, but may not maneuver as well as a compact car.
1. How Much Does a Kia Cadenza Weigh?
The Kia Cadenza weighs in at 3,799lbs. This vehicle comes with a splattering of safety features as well as a touch screen infotainment system. It gets 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, which is about average for full-size sedans. The Cadenza doesn’t accelerate very fast, but it does boast a very luxurious interior cabin.
2. How Much Does a Toyota Avalon Weigh?
The Toyota Avalon ranges in weight from 3,570 to 3,715 pounds. It offers a bit more acceleration speed compared to the Kia Cadenza. It is also one of few full-sized sedans to offer all-wheel drive. Depending on what trim you get, the mpg ranges from 21-25 mpg city and 30-34 mpg highway.
3. How Much Does a Chrysler 300 Weigh?
The Chrysler 300 comes in three trims, with weights ranging from 4,013 to 4,380 pounds. The Chrysler 300 ranges in mileage from 16-19mpg city and 25-30mpg city, depending on what trim you get. The 300s trim for this vehicle has been described as bulky around turns, but other models are a pleasant ride.
4. How Much Does a Dodge Charger Weigh?
The dodge charger weighs between 3,957 to 4,610 pounds. If you want fast performance and don’t mind sacrificing luxury, the dodge charger is the right car for you. Some of the models can accelerate from 0 to 60 in just 3.6 seconds. With this kind of engine power, fuel economy is also sacrificed with mpg averaging 12-19 city and 21-30 highway, depending on the trim.
5. How Much Does a Nissan Maxima Weigh?
The Nissan Maxima ranges in weight from 3,612 to 3,736 pounds. This vehicle has a high reliability rating and is also quick to get up and go. Some argue that the passenger and cargo space are on the small side. The Maxima’s mpg is on par for a large sedan, getting 20mpg city and 30mpg highway.
How Much Does an SUV Weigh?
SUVs can be broken down into several different categories: compact, midsize, large, hybrid, and crossover. We’ll take a detailed look into vehicles from all categories.
1. How Much Does a Honda CR-V Weigh?
The Honda CR-V is considered a compact SUV. It ranges in weight from 3,337 to 3,455 pounds. Despite being labeled compact, it has a large cargo and passenger space. The CR-V is a nice, well-rounded car with decent fuel economy, comfy ride, and decent acceleration. It gets 27-28 mpg city and 32-34 mpg highway, depending on if you get front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
2. How Much Does A BMW X5 Weigh?
The BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury SUV. It ranges in weight from 4,758 to 5,425 pounds. The most interesting feature about the X5 is the adaptive suspension that balances the vehicle while driving, giving it a smooth ride. Depending on the trim, the X5 gets an estimated fuel economy of 16-21 mpg city and 22-26 mpg highway.
3. How Much Does A Ford Expedition Weigh?
The Ford Expedition is a large SUV. It ranges in weight from 5,443 to 5,692 pounds. It has a turbocharged V6 engine with a comfortable ride. It has a very spacious cargo and passenger area, and a user-friendly infotainment system. The Ford Expedition ranges in fuel economy from 16-17mpg city and 21-23 mpg highway, which is pretty good for a large SUV.
4. How Much Does a Toyota RAV4 Weigh?
The Toyota RAV4 is a hybrid SUV. Its curb weight ranges from 3,690 to 3,780 pounds. This vehicle is another well-rounded vehicle that boasts great fuel economy, large cargo space, good acceleration and a splattering of standard features. It gets 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. You can also opt for the plug-in version that gets 42 miles per electric charge.
5. How Much Does a Mazda CX-5 Weigh?
The Mazda CX-5 is considered an SUV crossover and a compact SUV. It ranges in weight from 3,541 to 3,825 pounds. The CX-5 boasts one of the best safety scores of the SUV class. It has a sporty look and handling with a more luxurious interior than most, but has a small cargo space comparatively. It gets 23-25 mpg city and 28-31 mpg highway.
How Much Does A Pickup Weigh?
Pickup trucks are a great choice if you need to haul materials, or if you want to go off-roading on the weekends. Pickup trucks in general have lower fuel economy, but more powerful engines for hauling and towing.
1. How Much Does a Jeep Gladiator Weigh?
The Jeep Gladiator weighs between 4,650 to 5,050 lbs. Jeep Gladiators combine the fun off-road Jeep experience with a practical hauling vehicle. The doors and roof can also be removed, just like the Jeep Wrangler. Gladiators come with two rows of seating and an easy-to-use touch infotainment touch screen system.
2. How Much Does a Toyota Tacoma Weigh?
The Toyota Tacoma weighs between 3,980 to 4,480 pounds. It is considered an older pickup, but manufacturers have continued to make small changes over the years to make it a competitive vehicle. It comes with a long list of safety features. These are a part of Toyota’s Safety Sense bundle.
3. How Much Does a GMC Sierra 1500 Weigh?
The GMC Sierra 1500 ranges in weight from 4,520 to 5,530 pounds. The Sierra has an impressive towing capacity of over 12,000 pounds. It’s a great vehicle if you plan to use it to haul. It has a unique feature MultiPro Tailgate. It can be configured into a load stop for longer cargo, as well as three other unique setups.
4. How much Does a Chevy Silverado 1500 Weigh?
A chevy Silverado ranges in weight from 4,520 to 5,240 pounds. The Silverado offers an impressive towing capacity of over 13,000 pounds. A unique option for the Silverado is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. The Silverado offers a smooth and balanced ride that doesn’t feel bulky, despite it’s remarkable hauling capabilities.
5. How Much Does a Honda Ridgeline Weigh?
The Honda Ridgeline pickup truck weighs between 5,710 to 6,019 pounds. This pickup truck is more of a cruising truck as opposed to a hauling vehicle. If you want a truck but aren’t concerned with towing capacity, this is a great choice. It has a long list of safety features and has one of the smoothest and most comfortable rides.
How Much Does a Minivan Weigh?
Minivans are a great family vehicle. They have tons of seating space and cabin space to provide a comfortable ride for the whole family. Here is a list of some of the most popular minivans and their associated weight and details.
1. How Much Does a Honda Odyssey Weigh?
The Honda odyssey ranges in weight from 4,398 to 4,603 pounds. This minivan can seat up to eight people, which makes it a great choice for large families. It has a long list of safety features, as well as a feature that allows the driver to communicate with passengers in the back row. It gets 19mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
2. How Much Does a Toyota Sienna Weigh?
The Toyota Sienna ranges in weight from 4,610 to 4,725 pounds. Unlike the Odyssey, the sienna offers an all-wheel-drive option that helps driving in bad weather. It seats up to eight people. The best feature of this minivan is the fuel economy, getting 36mpg city and highway due to the hybrid engine.
3. How Much Does a Chrysler Pacifica Weigh?
The Chrysler Pacifica weighs between 4,521 to 4,883 pounds. This vehicle has many technical features including a rear-seat entertainment system and a camera that displays the rear seats to the driver. It also comes with an optional built in vacuum cleaner for any accidental spills. The Pacifica gets 19mpg city and 28mpg highway.
4. How Much Does a Kia Sedona weigh?
The Kia Sedona ranges in weight from 4,443 to 4,736 pounds. This is a well-rounded minivan with good reliability ratings and a long list of safety features. Its fuel economy is considered subpar with an estimated 18mpg city and 24mpg highway. It has a comfortable ride and is considered easy to handle.
5. How Much Does a Dodge Grand Caravan Weigh?
The Dodge Grand Caravan weighs 4,510 pounds. The dodge caravan offers a powerful V6 engine, but otherwise this minivan comes up short. It does not have a long list of safety features or driver-assist features and tends to be made of low-grade materials. It’s estimated mpg is also subpar, rated at 17mpg city and 25mpg highway.
How Much Does an Electric Vehicle (EV) Weigh?
Electric vehicles are slowly expanding, with more options available each year. They are a great choice if you are concerned about the environment. Some have ranges up to 300 miles between each charge. Here’s a look at the most popular EVs.
1. How Much Does a Kia Niro Weigh?
The electric Kia Niro weighs 3,854 pounds. This EV can travel for 239 miles between each battery charge. It comes with a long list of standard safety and drive-assist features. It has ample cargo space with split fold-down seats. The Niro is known for its balanced and comfortable ride, as well as a quality interior.
2. How Much Does a Tesla Model S Weigh?
The Tesla Model S ranges in weight from 4,883 to 4,941 pounds. It has a maximum range of 402 miles between charges. The worst part about the Model S is the price, starting at $74,990. However, if you can afford it, this is the top model electric car, with a long driving range, incredible tech, and a high-quality interior.
3. How Much Does a Porsche Taycan Weigh?
The Porsche Taycan ranges in weight from 4,771 to 5,119 pounds. This EV gets 201 miles between charges. Even more expensive than the Tesla Model S, the Taycan starts at $103,800. With the Taycan you get fast acceleration, a spacy interior, and advanced technology. It comes standard with all-wheel drive.
4. How Much Does an Audi e-tron weigh?
The Audi e-tron weighs 5,699 pounds. This is a luxury electric SUV comparable to the Tesla Model X. It has a maximum range of 204 miles between charges. The e-tron has a long list of advanced technology and driver-assist features. It has an excellent safety crash rating and a smooth ride.
5. How Much Does a Jaguar I-Pace Weigh?
The Jaguar I-Pace weighs 5,886 pounds. It has a maximum range of 234 miles between charges. Like the Porsche, the I-Pace has fast acceleration and comes in all-wheel drive for better handling. It includes an abundant list of safety features as well as advanced technology, including a Wi-Fi hot spot.
Are Heavy Cars Safer?
Heavier cars can be safer than lighter cars, but this is not always true, especially with newer vehicle innovations. Heavier cars tend to be longer and have a greater distance between the front of the vehicle and the passenger seats. This means more of the vehicle can be crushed before the occupants are. Additionally, a heavier car tends to move forward longer during a collision, meaning less force is pushed on the passengers.
Wrap Up
Cars vary greatly in weight, shape, and size. In general, compact cars are the lightest. Pickup trucks and SUVs are the heaviest. Heavier vehicles tend to be safer due to the force during collisions as well as the distance between the front of the vehicle and the passengers. Weight will help you determine safety, fuel economy, and space in a vehicle.
Hi, I am Brad. Car Independent is your source for independent views on cars and car accessories. Whether you looking to buy a new car or something cool for your car, you have many options. My aim to help you make the best-informed choices.
