What the chart shows
EPA test weights averaged 5,245 lb for new pickups and 3,545 lb for sedans/wagons in 2024, a 1,700 lb gap. In 1975, the two categories were within 46 lb.
Production-weighted new light-duty vehicles delivered for US sale, final model years 1975–2024.
How it was made
Use EPA production-weighted category averages for pickups and sedans/wagons. Compare their test weights by model year. Test weight is a binned curb-weight measure plus 300 lb.
Definitions & limits
- Sedans/wagons is the EPA category, broader than sedans alone. The measure is test weight rather than exact curb weight.
- Preliminary 2025 observations are excluded. This describes new vehicles, not the existing road fleet.
- The chart does not attribute the gap to electric pickups or claim uninterrupted growth.
Original sources
Snapshot date: 2026-10-13. Source releases and observations can be revised; the linked download notes describe this fixed version.