EPA SmartWay

EPA SmartWay is a vehicle certification program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that identifies the cleanest and most fuel-efficient passenger vehicles available in the United States. Each model year, the EPA rates every new car, truck, and SUV on two separate scales from 1 to 10 — one for greenhouse gas emissions and one for smog-forming emissions. Vehicles that score significantly better than average on a combined measure of both scales earn the SmartWay designation, representing roughly the top 20 percent of vehicles for environmental performance.

There are two tiers of recognition. The standard SmartWay label is awarded to vehicles that meet the combined emissions threshold, while the SmartWay Elite designation is reserved for vehicles that achieve the highest possible scores on both the greenhouse gas and smog scales simultaneously. The rating thresholds are updated annually to reflect improvements across the vehicle market, so the bar for certification rises over time.

This certification is relevant to consumers shopping for a new vehicle who want an independent, government-backed indicator of environmental performance, as well as to automakers and fleet managers seeking to identify or promote cleaner vehicle options. It applies to vehicles sold in the United States and is administered solely by the EPA.