Buick LeSabre/Electra Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record
The Buick LeSabre/Electra Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1985 to 1989. Across those years its best rated version returned 21 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 17 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize-Large Station Wagons.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3 | 21 mpg | 17 mpg | #9 of 20 (58th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
| 1986 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #20 of 23 (14th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
| 1987 | 1 | 17 mpg | 17 mpg | #21 of 24 (13th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
| 1988 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #18 of 25 (29th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
| 1989 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #13 of 21 (40th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize-Large Station Wagons |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Buick LeSabre/Electra Wagon placed highest in 1985 at #9 of 20, and lowest in 1987 at #21 of 24. It spent 1 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 7 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-OLDS) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (307) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (307) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (307) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1985 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-OLDS) (FFS) CA model | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1985 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-OLDS) (FFS) | 15 | 21 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1985 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Diesel | (350 V8), Diesel | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 17.0 | $4,250 | 484.76190476190476 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 → 1986 | 21 → 17 mpg | -4 mpg | 676 gal |
| 1987 → 1988 | 17 → 18 mpg | +1 mpg | 639 gal |
What LeSabre/Electra Wagon fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1989 Buick LeSabre/Electra Wagon burns 639 to 639 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,917 | $1,917 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,236 | $2,236 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,556 | $2,556 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1989 model year is $3,450 to $3,450 a year in fuel, or $6,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize-Large Station Wagons
Across the 53 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize-Large Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 18 mpg the Buick LeSabre/Electra Wagon is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $319 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize-Large Station Wagons rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Buick nameplates
Every Buick model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.