344 families. 1,204 configurations. The full current dataset.

What this census measures

The dataset behind this page holds 1,204 certification records grouped into 344 current model families across 48 makes: an average of 7.2 families per make and 3.5 certification records per family.

That distinction between families and configurations is the whole point. Buyers shop nameplates; regulators certify configurations; and the gap between the two is where most vehicle research goes wrong.

• Families are normalized nameplate groupings
• Configurations are efficiency-distinct certification records
• Records separate on powertrain, drivetrain and body
• Certification data carries no marketed trim names

Why the configuration count is so much larger

A single nameplate generates a separate certification record for every combination that produces a different efficiency result. A model offered with two engines, two drivetrains and two wheel fitments can produce many records under one name.

The consequence for a buyer is direct: a figure quoted for a nameplate may apply to only one of its 3.5 average configurations. Fuel economy, range, towing capacity and annual energy cost all move between configurations sharing a name.

• Efficiency figures are configuration-specific, not model-specific
• Towing and payload frequently differ between powertrains of one model
• Larger wheels and all-wheel drive typically raise consumption
• Verify against the specific configuration, not the nameplate

Reading the make table

BMW leads on configuration count with 111 records across 25 families. Lotus sits at the other end with 1.

Neither position is better. A high count can mean a broad lineup or a highly configurable one, and a low count can mean a focused lineup or a specialty maker. The families column separates those two explanations.

• Compare configurations against families, not in isolation
• A high ratio indicates configurability, not lineup size
• EPA label counts are reported separately and measure something different
• Make totals are distinct within each row

Limits and reuse

This is a census of certification records, not of sales. It says nothing about how many of each vehicle are sold, what they cost, or how they are equipped on a dealer lot.

It is dated to its source snapshot and should be cited that way. The calculated tables are downloadable so any figure here can be reproduced or challenged instead of taken on trust.