2015 Cadillac ELR: MPG and fuel economy
The 2015 Cadillac ELR is a plug-in hybrid rated at 33 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 31 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2015 Cadillac ELR. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 27% better combined MPG than the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2015 model year (26 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2015 model year is the BMW i3 BEV at 124 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $4,250 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2015 Cadillac ELR. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 33 MPG |
| City MPG | 31 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 35 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,100 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 91 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium Gas or Electricity |
How the 2015 Cadillac ELR compares
The 2015 Cadillac ELR returns 33 combined MPG. Cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year average 26 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 27%.
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2015 model year is the BMW i3 BEV at 124 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Cadillac ELR alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2015 model year (across all classes) returns 24.6 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2015 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 454.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,050 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,100 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,500 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Cadillac ELR
The EPA has rated the Cadillac ELR across 3 model years, from 2014 Cadillac ELR through 2016 Cadillac ELR. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 32 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 32 MPG | 2016 Cadillac ELR |
| 2015 | 33 MPG | this page |
| 2014 | 33 MPG | 2014 Cadillac ELR |
Compare against other Subcompact Cars for 2015
If you are cross-shopping the 2015 Cadillac ELR, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The BMW i3 BEV leads this group at 124 MPG, 91 MPG ahead of the 2015 Cadillac ELR.
Specifications
The 2015 Cadillac ELR runs a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Subcompact Cars
- Engine
- 1.4L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium Gas or Electricity
- Annual petroleum use
- 3.2 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2015 Cadillac ELR
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2015 Cadillac ELR.
-
Is the 2015 Cadillac ELR fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2015 Cadillac ELR returns 33 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year by about 27%. -
What MPG does the 2015 Cadillac ELR get?
The EPA rates the 2015 Cadillac ELR at 33 combined MPG, 31 MPG in city driving, and 35 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Cadillac ELR per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,100 for the 2015 Cadillac ELR. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2015 Cadillac ELR require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2015 Cadillac ELR as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Cadillac ELR become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2014 Cadillac ELR, 33 MPG) and most recent (2016 Cadillac ELR, 32 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2015 Cadillac ELR emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 91 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 1,365 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2015 Cadillac ELR?
City driving returns 31 MPG and highway driving returns 35 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2015 Cadillac ELR?
The 2015 Cadillac ELR has a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: PHEV). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2015 Cadillac ELR have?
The 2015 Cadillac ELR comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2015 Cadillac ELR compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2015 model year is the BMW i3 BEV at 124 combined MPG. The Cadillac ELR returns 33 MPG, a gap of 91 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.