Rolls-Royce makes some of the most popular cars that almost every celebrity has in their garage, but these cars are far from the best in one area. In fact, when it comes to fuel economy, Rolls-Royce is near the bottom of the pack. Here’s a look at those gas-guzzling Rolls-Royces and why it doesn’t really matter.

How fuel-inefficient Rolls-Royce cars are

According to the EPA, Rolls-Royce has the least fuel-efficient cars in three segments, the compact sedan segment, the large sedan segment, and the midsize station wagon segment. Not only that but in the large sedan segment, the company actually has two cars that have such poor fuel economies that both were tied for being the least fuel-efficient large sedan. 

The Dawn was the least fuel-efficient car in the compact sedan segment, as it only got a combined 14 MPG. The Ghost and the Phantom were tied for having the worst fuel economy in the large sedan segment, as both had a combined 14 MPG. And finally, the Cullinan was the least fuel-efficient midsize station wagon as it had a combined fuel economy of 14 MPG. 

Why these Rolls-Royce cars have bad fuel economies

There are multiple reasons why a car has a poor fuel economy, but generally speaking, it boils down to two main factors, the engine and size of the car. Obviously, since Rolls-Royce is in the business of making high-end luxury cars, every Rolls-Royce is equipped with a powerful and, unfortunately, gas-guzzling engine. 

This is the same story for all the cars that were listed by the EPA as having the worst fuel economies in their segment. The Dawn had a 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 that got over 500-hp, but due to how it was designed, it’s not going to get a great fuel economy.

The other Rolls-Royces on the EPA’s list have similar engines with slight differences, but these are all the same in the sense that none are very fuel-efficient. 

And then there’s the matter of size. Bigger cars are going to need more fuel to get going, and Rolls-Royces are actually quite heavy for the segment. There are a lot of reasons why these cars tend to be on the heavier side, but by and large, that extra weight comes from the luxurious features put into these cars. 

Why MPG doesn’t matter for this target market

At the end of the day, the main reasons why anyone is buying a Rolls-Royce in the first place is because of how powerful and luxurious each car is. That’s because this company fills a need for the rich and famous that other luxury brands may not do too well at. For example, Rolls-Royce might not make the fastest cars in the world, but that’s not its goal. 

Its goal is to provide a powerful, luxurious, and comfortable ride for the rich and famous, and that typically means getting a poor fuel economy. For most people, Rolls-Royce has seemingly accomplished that goal, as almost every car it makes is revered for its quality in design. On top of that, due to the customers that Rolls-Royce is targeting, poor fuel economy isn’t really that big of a deal. 

Most Rolls-Royces are expensive cars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And, according to the EPA, most of those fuel-inefficient Rolls-Royces will require owners to spend about $3,000 a year for gas, and that’s just a drop in the bucket for anyone who can afford a Rolls-Royce in the first place.

As such, while it’s interesting that Rolls-Royce makes so many fuel-inefficient cars, it’s really not that big of a deal for actual customers.