Tank Ledger

Buick Century MPG by year — every rating on record

The Buick Century has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 21 model years, from 1984 to 2005. Across those years its best rated version returned 27 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1984). The EPA record holds 60 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

27best combined mpg (1985)
18worst combined mpg (1984)
21latest year best (2005)
60configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984925 mpg18 mpg#1 of 32 (100th pct)n/aRegular, DieselMidsize Cars
1985827 mpg18 mpg#1 of 34 (100th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, DieselMidsize Cars
1986423 mpg19 mpg#7 of 38 (84th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1987423 mpg19 mpg#6 of 38 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1988424 mpg20 mpg#6 of 43 (88th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1989523 mpg20 mpg#10 of 52 (82th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1990323 mpg20 mpg#5 of 51 (92th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1991322 mpg19 mpg#5 of 57 (93th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1992322 mpg19 mpg#4 of 50 (94th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1993323 mpg19 mpg#4 of 48 (94th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1994224 mpg20 mpg#2 of 36 (97th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1995220 mpg20 mpg#14 of 39 (66th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1996224 mpg21 mpg#5 of 36 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1998121 mpg21 mpg#12 of 47 (76th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1999121 mpg21 mpg#13 of 56 (78th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
2000121 mpg21 mpg#12 of 51 (78th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
2001121 mpg21 mpg#12 of 54 (79th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
2002121 mpg21 mpg#14 of 52 (75th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
2003121 mpg21 mpg#15 of 46 (69th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
2004121 mpg21 mpg#22 of 55 (61th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
2005121 mpg21 mpg#22 of 56 (62th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Buick Century placed highest in 1984 at #1 of 32, and lowest in 2004 at #22 of 55. It spent 21 of its 21 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 60 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20053.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20043.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20033.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20023.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20013.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20003.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19993.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl172621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19983.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.1L 6-cyl172721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19963.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19962.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19953.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19953.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19943.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19942.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)222824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19933.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19933.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19932.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19923.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19923.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19922.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192822522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19913.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19913.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19912.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192822522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19903.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19903.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19902.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19892.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19893.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19892.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19893.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19892.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19883.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19882.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19873.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162519605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19872.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19863.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19862.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19853.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model152318638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19853.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model162419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19853.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)162319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19853.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19853.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19854.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Diesel4.3L 6-cyl, Diesel233226442.313.7$3,450391.53846153846155n/a
19854.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd DieselCA model, Diesel233227425.913.2$3,300377.037037037037n/a
19843.0L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19843.8L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(CAL,FFS)162319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19843.8L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model162319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19843.0L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19844.3L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Diesel(DIESEL) CA model212924479.214.9$3,750424.1666666666667n/a
19844.3L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Diesel(DIESEL) CA model213124479.214.9$3,750424.1666666666667n/a
19844.3L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Diesel(DIESEL)213125460.014.3$3,600407.2n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 5 of 10 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198525 → 27 mpg+2 mpg426 gal
1985 → 198627 → 23 mpg-4 mpg500 gal
1987 → 198823 → 24 mpg+1 mpg479 gal
1988 → 198924 → 23 mpg-1 mpg500 gal
1990 → 199123 → 22 mpg-1 mpg523 gal
1992 → 199322 → 23 mpg+1 mpg500 gal
1993 → 199423 → 24 mpg+1 mpg479 gal
1994 → 199524 → 20 mpg-4 mpg575 gal
1995 → 199620 → 24 mpg+4 mpg479 gal
1996 → 199824 → 21 mpg-3 mpg548 gal

What Century fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2005 Buick Century burns 548 to 548 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,643$1,643$0
$3.50/gal$1,917$1,917$0
$4.00/gal$2,190$2,190$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2005 model year is $2,950 to $2,950 a year in fuel, or $3,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 21 mpg the Buick Century is 4 mpg below the median, which is worth about $307 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Buick nameplates

Every Buick model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.