Does premium gas actually help your car?
If the manufacturer requires premium, use it. If the car is designed for regular, premium usually adds no meaningful benefit. “Recommended” sits in between.
What you need to know
Premium gasoline is higher octane, not automatically higher quality. If your owner’s manual says premium is required, use it. If the vehicle is designed for regular fuel, AAA testing found no significant improvement in horsepower, fuel economy or emissions from switching to premium. Some vehicles that recommend but do not require premium can show modest performance or efficiency gains under demanding conditions, but those gains may not cover the higher fuel price. The label on the fuel door and the owner’s manual are the decision-makers.
Use the required octane
Higher octane usually adds no measurable benefit
Possible modest benefit in some vehicles/conditions