If you’re like most people, the weight of your car is probably something you don’t give much thought to
However, knowing the weight of your vehicle can be very useful if you are about to tow it or drive over a weak grade
Getting your car tested can also help you make decisions about modifications and other changes
But how much does your car weigh?
And what factors affect the weight of the car?
In this blog post, we’ll look at average car weights by make and model and discuss some of the reasons why you might find different weights in your car’s specs
We will also look at where you can find the weight of your car without weighing it on a scale
The average car weighs 4,094 pounds, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency
An average small car (for example, Nissan Micra) weighs 2600 pounds, while an average large car (for example, Audi A8) weighs 4400 pounds
The average weight of a car, in general, has decreased over time, although newer models are larger for the average size
One reason why cars weigh less now than they did a few decades ago is that newer models of cars are designed to be as light as possible
Lighter weight reduces the amount of force required to stop and start, improving safety and handling
Cars come in different sizes and shapes
Although the cars are built with different materials and in different ways, they tend to average in the same ballpark in terms of weight in the same type range
Here are some of the average weights of the most popular car types on the market:
Weight per Vehicle Model
Weight per Vehicle Model
To be more specific about the average car weight for each car model and not just the car type, here is a list of the average car weights for some popular car models
The weight of these vehicle models may vary depending on the model year, engine type and equipment installed on your vehicle
Car ModelYearsWeight(Kg)Weight(lbs)Ford Mustang15-1917003700 Honda Accord94-9712952854 Honda Civic96-0011432519 Toyota Camry90-9412602770 Toyota Corolla201913012870 Dodge Charger06-1018874160 Jeep Cherokee87-0215233357 Jeep Grand Cherokee39017515 03900 Ford Explorer18-22154900 Mercedes Benz E-class16-1817233800 Honda CR-V18-15233358 Mercedes Benz C-class15-1815503417 Nissan Altima12-1814303153 Chevrolet Malibu15-1815263366 Chevrolet-0c0808066 Chevrolet-0c080866 Chevrolet Malibu15-1815263366 366 Chevrolet-020080866 Chevrolet- 020080866 Chevrolet-0c0809666 Chevrolet-08080666600800066 Chevrolet-03506666600000066 Chevrolet Malibu 05800 Chevrolet Tahoe92-0020004500 Toyota Highlander13-1820454508 Subaru Outback18-16503642 Mercedes Benz GLC-class15-1817903950 Ford Fusion13-1815543427 Toyota Tacoma95-0414513200
Different types of vehicle weight
Different types of vehicle weight
If you look up your vehicle’s weight specifications in the owner’s manual or search by VIN, you may notice that you will see various weights, so who should you be looking at and what do all these different weights mean?
Here are the most common types of weight, and a brief description of each of them:
Curb Weight: Weight without driver, passengers, or any cargo
Gross Weight: The maximum weight of the vehicle with driver and all passengers
Gross Combined Weight: This is a category you should consider if you have a trailer
Weight of trailer and vehicle combined
Load: The weight of the vehicle, luggage, passengers (gross weight), plus anything you’re towing behind the vehicle
Gross Weight Rating: The maximum weight your vehicle can carry with driver, passengers and cargo
Gross Axle Weight: The weight load on each axle of your vehicle
Maximum Load Trailer Weight: Very similar to the combined gross weight
But this also includes the weight of a fully loaded trailer
Gross Axle Weight Rating: The maximum weight that one axle on your vehicle can carry
RELATED: Average Car Length – List of Car Lengths
So if you couldn’t find your car model in the list above, there are better ways to find it without weighing it
Here are a few easy ways to find your car’s weight quickly and with accurate results
The easiest and fastest way to find your vehicle’s weight is probably using a VIN coder or lookup
VIN decoders are available as paid or free versions
We have a free VIN decoder here at Mechanicbase, and you can use it as many times as you like
The VIN code is located in several different places on your vehicle
On most car models, there is also a label with the VIN near the area where the car door lock is attached
The owner’s manual you received when you bought the car is another good place to find your car’s weight
The instruction manual is often in the glove compartment, so if you still have your car’s manual, look there to find your car’s weight
Finding the weight of your car on Wikipedia is also an easy option as they have many car models listed there with measurements
But the disadvantage of this method is that cars are available in many different models with different engines and other equipment, so you cannot get accurate results
However, if you do not need to find the exact weight, but only need to get a rough idea of the weight, it can be a good choice
There is a sticker with the VIN and various other specifications, such as tire pressure, tire size and vehicle weight on almost all vehicle models
This sticker can often be found on the body of your car behind the driver’s door
Open the driver’s door and look at the label near the center locking bracket
If you have your license plate number or VIN number, you can call an authorized dealer and ask if they can get any specifications for your vehicle’s specific model
Of course, the best way to find out the actual weight of your car is to weigh it on a scale
But finding a scale big enough to weigh a car is probably easier said than done
If you really want to weigh your car on a scale, you can often find these at junkyards and auto inspection locations
Weighing your car on a scale may be necessary if you have installed a lot of heavy equipment in your car, such as a large sound system or dog crates
The weight of this small car is 2018 lbs or 917 kg
There are lighter cars, but not if you’re looking to buy new from the factory
The Ford F450 Super Duty Crew Cab is the heaviest vehicle you can buy if you are looking for a modern vehicle in the US market
This Ford weighs 8600 pounds or 3900 kilograms
The average car weight in kilograms is 1857 kg
The average weight of a small car (example Nissan Micra) in kilograms is 1200 kg and the average weight of a large car (example Audi A8) in kilograms is 2000 kg