Do Any Cars Still Use Carburetors?

In short: no—no mass-produced, road-legal new passenger cars use carburetors today. Carburetors have been displaced by electronic fuel injection (EFI) across global markets for emissions, efficiency, and reliability reasons. You’ll still find carburetors in older cars, some niche or non-road-legal builds, and certain racing classes, but the era of carbureted production cars is over.

How We Got Here: Why Carburetors Disappeared

Carburetors mix air and fuel mechanically, a method that dominated through much of the 20th century. Beginning in the late 1970s and accelerating through the 1980s and 1990s, tightening emissions standards, the need for better fuel economy, and drivability demands pushed automakers to EFI. Electronic systems—first throttle-body injection, then multi-port and today’s direct injection—allow precise metering, clean cold starts, adaptive altitude and temperature compensation, and on-board diagnostics compliance. Modern regulations (EPA/OBD-II in the U.S., Euro standards in Europe, China 6, and Bharat Stage 6 in India) effectively require that level of control, making carburetors impractical for new cars.

Are Any New Cars Still Carbureted?

No major automaker sells a new, emissions-compliant passenger car with a carburetor in 2025. Even the least expensive volume models worldwide use EFI. Limited exceptions exist only at the margins: certain kit or “continuation” replicas, off-road-only builds, or custom-registered vehicles may run carbureted engines, but these aren’t mass-produced or typically certified under modern emissions regimes.

Where Carburetors Still Show Up

Although new production cars have moved on, carburetors remain part of the automotive landscape in a few specific contexts. The following list highlights the most common places you’ll still encounter them.

• Classic and vintage cars: Millions remain on the road or in collections, maintained with rebuilt or upgraded carbs.
• Grassroots and spec racing: While top series (e.g., NASCAR, NHRA Pro Stock) have switched to EFI, many local oval-track and club classes still allow or prefer carbureted V8s for simplicity and cost.
• Kit cars and replicas: Some “component” or continuation builds use crate engines with carburetors; road legality varies by jurisdiction and often relies on special registration rules.
• Off-road-only or specialized applications: Track-only cars, dune buggies, or agricultural derivatives sometimes retain carbs where emissions compliance isn’t required.

In all these cases, carburetors persist because they are familiar, tunable with basic tools, and supported by a robust aftermarket—advantages that matter in enthusiast and non-regulated environments.

Regional Timeline: When Carburetors Faded

United States and Canada

U.S. passenger cars transitioned largely in the 1980s, with EFI universal by the early 1990s. Among the final U.S.-market holdouts, the 1990 Subaru Justy is widely cited as one of the last passenger cars offered with a carburetor. SUVs and light trucks lingered slightly longer; for example, the 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer used a carbureted AMC 360 V8 to the end of its run, and a few small pickups offered carbureted base engines into the mid-1990s. OBD-II rules beginning with 1996 model-year vehicles effectively ended the practice.

Europe and Japan

Both regions moved decisively to EFI by the early 1990s. European “Euro 1” emissions standards in 1992 and widespread adoption of catalytic converters accelerated the shift. In Japan, EFI had already become the norm by the late 1980s; a few kei models retained carbs into the early-to-mid 1990s before regulations and consumer expectations completed the transition.

Emerging Markets

In countries where emissions rules tightened later, carburetors survived longer. India’s mass-market models, such as the Maruti 800 and Hindustan Ambassador in certain trims, used carburetors into the late 1990s and around 2000, when Bharat Stage norms pushed mass adoption of MPFI. Russia’s “classic” Ladas kept carbs into the 2000s before injection became standard. Iran’s long-running Paykan, a derivative of the Hillman Hunter, used a carburetor until production ended in 2005. By the 2010s, however, modern emissions frameworks had essentially eliminated carburetors from new production cars globally.

Notable “Last” Carbureted Models Often Cited

The following examples are frequently mentioned as among the last mainstream vehicles with carburetors in their segments or markets. Dates and availability sometimes vary by trim and region.

• 1990 Subaru Justy (U.S. passenger car, certain trims)
• 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (U.S. SUV, carbureted AMC 360 V8)
• Mid-1990s small pickups (U.S. market, select base engines; carburetors disappeared prior to universal OBD-II in 1996)
• Iran Khodro Paykan (ended 2005, carbureted through its production life)
• Lada “Classic” series (Russia/CIS, carburetors common into the early-to-mid 2000s before injection took over)

While the precise “last” can be debated due to regional and trim-level nuances, these models illustrate how the final carbureted vehicles clustered around the late 1980s to mid-1990s in developed markets and extended into the 2000s in certain emerging markets.

If You Want a Carbureted Car Today

Enthusiasts seeking a carbureted driving experience typically shop the used market or build from kits. Proper maintenance—fuel system cleanliness, regular adjustment, and attention to ignition timing—keeps carbs reliable. That said, for daily use in modern traffic and climates, EFI offers clear advantages in starting, altitude compensation, emissions, and fuel economy.

Summary

No: modern production cars no longer use carburetors. Electronic fuel injection has been universal for decades in developed markets and is now standard worldwide due to emissions, efficiency, and reliability requirements. Carburetors remain part of automotive culture—alive in classics, some racing series, and niche builds—but as far as new, road-legal passenger cars are concerned, the carburetor era has ended.

Do any new cars still use carburetors?

The Shift to Electronic Fuel Injection
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, automakers began moving away from carburetors and embracing electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems. This transition happened for several reasons—efficiency, reliability, emissions control, and technological progress.

Why did cars stop using carburetors?

Cars no longer have carburetors primarily because electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems provide superior, computer-controlled fuel delivery, leading to better fuel economy, lower emissions, and improved engine performance and reliability. Stricter emissions standards required the precise air-fuel mixture control that only EFI systems could achieve, while also improving the driving experience by enabling automatic adjustments for different conditions. 
Here’s a breakdown of the key reasons:

• Stricter Emissions Standards : Governments worldwide implemented stricter emissions regulations that carburetors, with their less precise fuel delivery, could not meet. Fuel injection systems, using sensors and computers, deliver the exact amount of fuel needed for a clean, efficient burn, which is essential for catalytic converters to function effectively and reduce pollution. 
• Better Fuel Economy : EFI systems continuously monitor engine conditions and deliver only the necessary fuel, minimizing waste and improving gas mileage compared to the more inefficient fuel delivery of a carburetor. 
• Improved Performance and Drivability : EFI systems automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture for different speeds, altitudes, and temperatures, leading to smoother starts, quicker throttle response, and more consistent engine behavior in all driving conditions. 
• Enhanced Reliability : Unlike carburetors, which can be prone to issues with cold starts or hot conditions, EFI systems are sealed and operate reliably across a wide range of scenarios. 
• The Rise of Computers and Sensors : The development of advanced sensors and microprocessors allowed for the real-time monitoring of engine parameters, enabling fuel injection systems to precisely control fuel delivery, a capability beyond carburetors. 

What was the last car to use a carburetor?

The 1994 Isuzu Pickup (2WD, base engine) is generally considered the last carbureted vehicle sold in North America, with the 1991 Ford LTD Crown Victoria (5.8L V8 version) and the 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer also being among the last carbureted vehicles sold in the US market. While most automakers had switched to fuel injection by the early 1990s to meet stricter emissions and fuel economy standards, these models continued to offer carbureted engines until their final production years.
 
Examples of the last carbureted vehicles in the US:

• 1994 Isuzu Pickup: Opens in new tabThe base model 2WD version with its 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine was the last carbureted passenger vehicle sold in North America. 
• 1991 Ford LTD Crown Victoria: Opens in new tabThe police interceptor (P72) version of the Crown Victoria could be optioned with a 5.8-liter (351 cubic inch) V8 engine that used a carburetor, making it the last passenger car sold in the US with one. 
• 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer: Opens in new tabThis SUV’s final year of production saw it equipped with a 360 cubic inch V8 and a two-barrel carburetor, making it one of the last carbureted vehicles sold in the US market. 

Why Carburetors Were Phased Out 

• Emissions Standards: Carburetors were less precise than fuel injection systems, which made it harder to control fuel-air ratios and meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
• Fuel Economy: Fuel injection is more efficient at managing fuel delivery, leading to better fuel economy than carburetors could achieve.
• Performance and Reliability: Fuel injection provides more consistent power across a wider range of operating conditions (like temperature and altitude) and requires less maintenance.

Which is better, fuel injected or carbureted?

Yes, fuel injection is generally better than a carburetor because it provides greater fuel efficiency, more power, lower emissions, and superior drivability by using sensors and computers to deliver the optimal air-fuel ratio. While carburetors are simpler and less expensive initially, fuel injection systems are more complex, costly to repair, but ultimately offer better performance and reliability for modern driving needs.
 
Advantages of Fuel Injection

• Improved Efficiency and Emissions: Fuel injection systems precisely control the air-fuel mixture, leading to better fuel economy and significantly reduced harmful tailpipe emissions to meet environmental standards. 
• Enhanced Power and Performance: The system delivers the right amount of fuel for the engine’s demands, providing more power, torque, and a more responsive driving experience. 
• Better Drivability and Reliability: Fuel injection systems make starting easier, eliminate issues with hot starts or changes in altitude, and reduce engine-fouling problems like carbon deposits. 
• Greater Adaptability: Sensors and computers allow the system to make thousands of adjustments per second, optimizing performance for various conditions like starting, idling, and acceleration. 

Advantages of Carburetors

• Simplicity and Affordability: Carburetors are less complex, easier to understand, and less expensive to purchase, maintain, and repair compared to fuel injection systems. 
• Flexibility for Tuning: Carburetors can be easier to modify and tune for specific performance requirements, especially in high-horsepower applications or for older vehicles. 
• Independence from Electronics: Since they don’t rely on electronic components, carburetors are not susceptible to electrical malfunctions. 

Disadvantages of Fuel Injection 

• Higher Costs: Fuel injection systems are more expensive to purchase, install, and repair, often requiring specialized tools and expertise.
• Complexity: The reliance on sensors, pumps, wiring, and computers makes them more complex and prone to electronic failures.

Disadvantages of Carburetors

• Less Precise and Efficient: Opens in new tabThe fixed-orifice nature of carburetors makes them less adaptable to changing conditions, leading to lower fuel efficiency and higher emissions. 
• Drivability Issues: Opens in new tabCold starts can be more challenging, requiring pumping the gas pedal, and performance can be inconsistent in varying weather or altitudes.