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How Much Does An Average Car Weigh

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How To Find The Weight Of A Certain Vehicle

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With social media and the internet, it is not difficult to know the exact weight of a particular vehicle. Besides, there are plenty of websites dedicated to cars alone, and therefore extracting the information would be a piece of cake. Some of the sources that provide car weight information are as follows:

What Effects A Car’s Weight:

There are a few contributing factors that make up a car’s weight. These factors differ between the materials used during the production of the vehicle, the engine size of the vehicle, and the vehicle class.

Understanding your vehicle’s weight is not only a safety consideration but is also a way to understand your projected fuel economy. There are a variety of ways to count the weight of a vehicle. Below are the most common ways a vehicle can be measured and referred to:

Gross Axle Weight Rating

Gross axle weight rating is the specific weight that is to be allowed on an individual axle determined by the manufacturer, which one should not cross. So in simple words, GAWR is the weight limit for each of the vehicles axles a weight limit determined by the automaker/ manufacturer.

The main logic for the automakers to provide a specific limit on how much a vehicles axles are supposed to carry is safety. Automotive safety is a priority. Putting an extra load on any vehicle is very dangerous and more so if the axles are overloaded and distributed unevenly.

Dealing with safety and precautions, a cars weight is one of the most important criteria to consider while or before purchasing a car. Crossing the limit of any cars weight limit set by the manufacturer can lead to various risks. Overloading a vehicle can cause many problems within the components of a vehicle itself. For example, the steering wheel may become less responsive because of the excess weight. So the overall handling of the vehicle will be significantly affected.

The brakes of a car may not function properly or effective enough to slow down a vehicle substantially. The tires may overheat because of the overload, and it may potentially cause a blowout situation, which can be risky. It can also cause mechanical failure since overloading and overstressing components in a car can cause accidents since one is not able to handle the car while on the road.

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Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

This is an important one. It represents the total maximum amount that your car, and everything in it, can safely weigh, according to the manufacturer. If you overload your vehicle and exceed its GVWR, a number of very bad things can happen to your vehicle and whomever is riding in it:

  • The brakes can fail
  • The tires can blow out
  • The suspension can break

The Lightest Cars Sold In The Us

How Much Does The Average Car Weigh?

Modernization no Longer Means Adding Weight

The cars on U.S. roads have continued to gain weight over the years. Your average midsize sedan now checks in at 3,300 pounds, and some compact cars have gotten so heavy that they also weigh more than 3,000 pounds. As cars continue to grow and contain more equipment, they get heavier however, not all of them have passed the 3,000-pound threshold. Plenty are still under that mark. With the continued push for better fuel economy without sacrificing safety, space, and performance, automakers will be forced to make their vehicles lighter than to meet government requirements. Here is a compilation of cars that have a head start on the rest of the industry when it comes to cutting weight. All of these vehicles weigh less than 3,000 pounds, even in their heaviest and/or range-topping variants.

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How Much Does A Hyundai Sonata Weigh

The Sonata is on the smaller side of the mid-size range, but its got sleek styling that makes it look smaller than it is. It gives off the appearance of a car thats much more expensive than it is, and it has the performance to match. It has excellent features, too. The smart parking assist stands out. This feature allows the car to partially pull out of a parking space at the click of a button on the key fob. It can also park itself with this feature, making tight parking spaces much more accessible.

The base model weighs just 3,120 pounds, and the heaviest model is 3,336 pounds.

How Much Does A 4 Cylinder Engine Weigh

A 4 cylinder car engine or a regular 2.0L V4 car engine weighs around 300 lbs. This average weight can vary depending on the material used.

Most car manufacturers like Ford, Volkswagen, and Chevy are constantly trying to reduce their car engine weight.

Lighter engines are more efficient and perform better. Companies are investing in research on getting the car engine weight reduced. The research has improved as we see V4 engines weighing around 260-280 lbs in newer versions.

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Why Does Car Weight Matter

Fuel economy is arguably the biggest reason you as a driver on the road today need to be concerned about what a car weighs. This affects how your car performs and your financial bottom line. Modern fuel systems have come a long way to improving fuel economy and allowing you to get the most miles for your fuel dollars. That said, the weight of your car will always have an effect on that. The heavier a car is, the more an engine has to work to move the whole thing. The reason cars can be so heavy on the road now, and they are heavier than they used to be by quite a bit in some cases, is because of those engines. Engineering has allowed for engines to be incredibly efficient and powerful, which offsets those weight gains to keep speeds and economy at competitive levels across the industry.

Despite the weight increases in recent years, fuel economy has increased right alongside of it almost consistently year over year. In the year 2004, you could expect to get 24.6 miles per gallon on average in America. In the year 2020 that average is up to 35 miles per gallon.

Average V8 Engine Weight

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The typical V8 engine weighs around 400 to 700 pounds . In a large pickup or SUV, you will often find the heaviest V8 engines.

However, not all V8 engines are large and heavy. In fact, both the Ford/Jaguar 3.9-liter V8 from the 1990s and the GM 215 V8 were considered smaller eight-cylinder engines that weigh less than most.

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List Of Car Curb Weights

As you can see from this list, car weight can vary a lot, depending on the type of vehicle, the engine, and many other factors. These weights, published by Motor Trend, Edmunds.com, Vehicle History.com, and Automobile Magazine, are for the car only and do not include cargo, passengers, or any other items.

This table lists the curb weights for some of the most popular models for 2020.

Model
2020 Kia Telluride SX 4 Door AWD 4,482 pounds
2020 Subaru Outback Ltd 4 Door AWD 3,730 pounds
2020 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss 4 Door Crew Cab 5,105 pounds
2020 Honda Pilot Elite 4 Door AWD 4,319 pounds
2020 Kia Soul GT-Line 4 Door Wagon 2,844 pounds
2020 Ford Escape SE 4 Door 3,299 pounds
2020 Lexus LS 500 4 Door Sedan 4,707 pounds
2020 Toyota Supra 3.0 2 Door Coupe 3,397 pounds
2020 Buick Regal TourX 4 Door Wagon AWD 3,708 pounds

Some of the top selling vehicles in 2019 and their curb weights:

Model
2019 Ford Fusion S 4 Door Sedan 3,472 pounds
2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 SR 4 Door Sedan 3,290 pounds
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4 Door 4WD 4,677 pounds
2019 Honda Accord LX 4 Door Sedan 3,131 pounds
2019 Nissan Rogue SV 4 Door AWD 3,614 pounds
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4 Door 3,370 pounds
2019 Ford F150 XL 4 Door SuperCrew 4WD 4,769 pounds
2019 Toyota Highlander XLE 4 Door 4,310 pounds
2019 Lincoln MKC Reserve 4 Door 3,811 pounds
2019 Buick Envision Essence 4 Door 3,755 pounds

Curb weights for a variety of popular 2018 car models.

Impact Of Weight On Fuel Efficiency

According to the EPA, for every 100 pounds removed from a vehicle, fuel efficiency increases 1-2%.

What does that mean in real world terms? At a 2% improvement, if your car averages 20 miles per gallon, gas is $3 per gallon, and you drive 20,000 miles per year, you would save around $60 annually for very 100 pounds.

That definitely adds up over time. Check your back seat and trunk for any unnecessary weight. Golf clubs, tool kits, school supplies.whatever. Most people have more junk in their cars than they expect.

Reducing weight by a few hundred pounds is usually not that difficult.

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How Much Does A Car Engine Weigh

Knowing the weight of a car engine when lifting it out of your car can be interesting. Here is the average weight of V6, V8 and 4-cylinder car engines and what to think about

  • ByMagnus Sellén

Whether you are planning to replace your vehicles motor or you are simply curious, you might be asking yourself how much does a car engine weigh? With so many different engines on the road, its difficult to say that all motors weigh the same amount.

Engine size is the largest factor in weight, with most large engines like V8s weighing between 400 and 700 pounds and a smaller V6 engine weighing between 300 to 450 pounds on average. However, diesel motors can weigh more than 700 pounds.

We look at several types of engines and discuss how the weight is determined. Our article also determines if the engine size affects performance.

How Are Cars Weighed

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Its an odd thing to talk about the average weight of a car, in fact, because it also depends on what metric you are weighing the vehicle. There are no fewer than 8 different types of weight that can be listed for any one vehicle. The first one in the list is the one we most commonly use, and thats the curb weight.

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What Affects The Weight Of The Car:

There are several factors that make up the weight of a car. These factors depend on the materials used in the manufacture of the vehicle, the engine size of the vehicle, and the vehicle class.

Understanding vehicle weight is not only a safety consideration, but also a way to understand expected fuel economy. There are various ways to count the weight of a vehicle. The following are the most common ways you can measure and reference your vehicle.

Should You Choose A Car That Weighs More Or Less

Now that you understand a little bit about how the weight of a car affects things like fuel economy and safety for your vehicle, the big question is how does that affect what car you should get? Is it better to have a heavier car or a lighter car in the long run, or does it even matter at all?

Choosing between a heavier or a lighter vehicle really comes down to what you place the highest value on. In terms of your driving experience, what do you need out of a vehicle? A lighter car may save you some money on fuel in the long run but there is a potentially greater safety risk if you run afoul of one of those heavier vehicles. Likewise, a heavier car may be less environmentally friendly. If its a gas-powered vehicle versus an electric car you can factor in that aspect to your determination as well. And, of course, theres the simple matter of what the car looks like and how it handles in a way that may or may not appeal to you.

No one could argue a lighter car is better than a heavier car or the opposite point, either. As with everything from the trim levels to the paint job, its a very personal and subjective choice based on your own wants and needs.

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How Much Does A V6 Engine Weigh

The V6 engine, on average, weighs around 400 lbs or 181 kgs. The type of material used in the V6 engines does have a major impact on the engine weight.

While the cast-iron V6 engines, like the Chevy V6 4.3L, weigh around 425 lbs, the lighter aluminium-based V6 engines, like the Ferrari Dino V6, weigh just about 265 lbs, which is lower than the average weight of even a V4 engine.

The lightest V6 engine is the Ford Mondeo V6 engine, which weighs just 225 lbs.

How Does Gas Vs Electric Affect What A Car Weighs

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You may have noticed that electric cars are often much heavier than gasoline powered cars. This is true regardless of size and an electric version of one car will always be heavier than its identical gas-powered counterpart. It may seem counterintuitive at first, that the environmentally friendly electric vehicle that doesnt even require a gas tank is somehow incredibly heavy. The Audi e-tron is nearly 6,000 pounds, for instance. The Tesla Model S has a curb weight of 4,883 pounds so you can see these are beefy vehicles.

The reason an electric car weighs so much its because of those batteries. The battery banks in an electric car are just enormous and the average battery weighs over 500 pounds. A gallon of gas weighs just over 6 pounds, so if you have a 15 gallon tank, youre packing on around 100 pounds overall. Quite a bit off from the battery weight in an electric car.

The engines in electric cars are actually much lighter than combustion engines. It’s just the offset from the batteries is very significant which is what causes the difference. Teslas Cybertruck is going to be the first mass market electric truck and although firm numbers havent been released yet its speculated to be more than twice a Ford F-150. That means it’s potentially over 10,000 pounds. As of early 2020 that was still just speculation, though.

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Different Car Weight Classes

Now that you have an idea of how to measure car weight, lets delve into different ways that manufacturers classify cars. In order to understand the total average, i.e., the median value of all cars, we need to go over each individual class. With that in mind, Ill provide you with some of the weight averages for each individual class since some of them can vary wildly.

Based on their weight, cars can fall under one of the following classes:

  • Smart Car
  • Half-Ton Truck

Canoe / Kayak Trailer Weight

Canoe and kayak trailers are small trailers used for hauling personal watercraft such as canoes, kayaks and even paddleboards.

They typically weigh between 100 and 400 pounds when unloaded. The average weight of a canoe or kayak trailer is 200 pounds.

Depending on the number of watercraft the trailer is designed to carry — one, two, four or more the maximum trailer weight can be anywhere from 200 to 800 pounds.

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How To Find The Weight Of A Car

For safety, it is important to know how much your car weighs for a multitude of reasons. It is important to understand the maximum weight your vehicle can tow without causing damage, how many passengers and cargo you can safely travel with, and if there is a bridge or road that has a weight limit, knowing your vehicle’s total weight limits are important. For reference for your specific vehicle, there are tools available to you that will give you the exact weight of your vehicle.

The driver’s side door has a sticker with the weight of your car listed on the sill of the door frame. When you purchase a car, you receive an owner’s manual that also lists all of the appropriate weights for your vehicle. You can also call the vehicle manufacture, providing them with your vehicle’s year, make, model, and vehicle identification number and they will provide you with any weight measurement you require.

The last and often most efficient way to get an accurate measurement of your vehicle’s weight is to take your vehicle to a vehicle scale location. You can go online to find the closest vehicle scale to you, and get an accurate measurement of weight from there. Weights you find online may be a different weight than what your local scale states. Understanding the limitations of your vehicle will help keep you and other drivers safe on the roadways.

Maximum Vehicle Weights For Roadways

How Much Does The Average Car Weigh?

Each state establishes the maximum size vehicles that can travel on the highways and smaller roads throughout the state. Most U.S. states established a weight limit of about 80,000 pounds, and many Canadian Provinces allow over 90,000 pounds. Federal law governs the interstate system which places a limit of 80,000 pounds GVW, with 20,000 pounds on one axle and 34,000 on a tandem axle group. If you are concerned about the weight of your vehicle exceeding the road limits, it’s a good idea to consult a weight chart for the state or province where you’ll be traveling. Some examples of state weight charts include the following:

  • Wisconsin lists legal vehicle weights based on the distance between axles.
  • Ohio provides a chart of maximum vehicle dimensions and instructions on how to calculate the legal maximum weight limit.
  • California provides a chart of legal weights based on the axle distance and number of axles.

If you drive a large vehicle and you’re concerned that your cargo may place it over the legal weight limits, check the DOT website for your particular state to determine the legal limits for your specific vehicle.

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