- Premium gas prices saw sales decline by 5% through June 2026.
- The reason for this is the increased fuel prices due to the US-Iran conflict.
- Buyers of luxury and performance cars opted for regular fuel to save money.
According to , the average cost of a gallon of gas is slowly declining, falling below the $4.00 mark so far in July. aaa fuel prices. However, drivers are still feeling some pain at the pumps, and high prices in June caused many luxury and performance car owners to abandon premium gasoline in favor of cheaper regular gas.
bloomberg Premium gasoline sales declined 5.0 percent between June 22 and June 25 compared with the average in February, it said, citing data from a cash-back app called Upside. Upside used February for comparison because it was just before the beginning of the United States attack on Iran, which caused oil prices to rise.
While less impacted, mid-range sales saw a 2.0 percent decline during the same period, while regular gas sales saw a 10.0 percent increase. “We almost always see premiums being lower than regular,” Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told Bloomberg.
Many luxury and performance vehicles require premium gas (91 octane or above) by the manufacturer, and running lower octane is not recommended. This may save drivers money, but it can also cause engine failure and even permanent damage.
Some vehicles recommend only high octane fuel for peak performance, but it is not required. Some manufacturers, such as Mazda, will also advertise increased horsepower or torque ratings if you use premium gas.
| Sample |
horse power (Regular | Premium) |
Torque: (Regular | Premium) |
| Mazda3 / CX-50 | 227 hp | 250 hp | 310 lb-ft | 320 lb-ft |
| Mazda CX-70/CX-90 | 319 hp | 340 hp | 369 lb-ft |
Although automakers do not officially say so, many luxury versions of vehicles that share an engine with their mainstream counterpart may run on lower-grade fuel at lower outputs. Conversely, the mainstream version includes software that will allow it to deliver more power when the owner puts premium fuel in it. Some examples include:
- Nissan Armada: 425 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque
- Infiniti QX80: 450 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque
- Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max: 362 hp and 400 lb-ft
- Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance: 366 hp and 406 lb-ft
Motor1’s Opinion: With fuel prices rising, drivers are looking for solutions to save money. Not everyone can trade in their vehicle for something newer, smaller or more fuel-efficient, but if that’s the car you drive, using lower-grade gasoline is an easier option.
