Tank Ledger

Buick LeSabre MPG by year — every rating on record

The Buick LeSabre has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 22 model years, from 1984 to 2005. Across those years its best rated version returned 21 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 16 mpg (1984). The EPA record holds 35 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.

21best combined mpg (1984)
16worst combined mpg (1984)
21latest year best (2005)
35configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984921 mpg16 mpg#4 of 14 (77th pct)n/aRegular, DieselLarge Cars
1985521 mpg17 mpg#4 of 13 (75th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegular, DieselLarge Cars
1986220 mpg19 mpg#3 of 15 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1987119 mpg19 mpg#3 of 15 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1988120 mpg20 mpg#4 of 20 (84th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1989120 mpg20 mpg#4 of 16 (80th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1990119 mpg19 mpg#4 of 16 (80th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1991120 mpg20 mpg#1 of 19 (100th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1992119 mpg19 mpg#5 of 24 (83th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1993120 mpg20 mpg#5 of 25 (83th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1994120 mpg20 mpg#6 of 25 (79th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1995120 mpg20 mpg#7 of 32 (81th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1996120 mpg20 mpg#7 of 30 (79th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1997120 mpg20 mpg#3 of 26 (92th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1998121 mpg21 mpg#4 of 24 (87th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
1999121 mpg21 mpg#4 of 26 (88th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
2000120 mpg20 mpg#5 of 22 (81th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
2001120 mpg20 mpg#4 of 27 (88th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
2002121 mpg21 mpg#3 of 25 (92th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
2003121 mpg21 mpg#5 of 32 (87th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
2004121 mpg21 mpg#6 of 41 (88th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars
2005121 mpg21 mpg#4 of 42 (93th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Buick LeSabre placed highest in 1991 at #1 of 19, and lowest in 1995 at #7 of 32. It spent 22 of its 22 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 35 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20053.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20043.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20033.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl172721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20023.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl172721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20013.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
20003.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19993.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl172721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19983.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.8L 6-cyl172721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19973.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19963.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19953.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19943.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19933.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19923.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162619605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19913.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19903.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162519605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19893.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19883.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19873.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162519605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19863.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19863.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19853.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19853.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19855.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(GM-OLDS) (FFS) CA model152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19855.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(GM-OLDS) (FFS)152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19855.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Diesel(350 V8), Diesel182621547.617.0$4,250484.76190476190476n/a
19844.1L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)141916718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-OLDS)141916718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(GM-OLDS)142116718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19844.1L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model152016718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-OLDS) CA model141916718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(GM-OLDS) CA model142016718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19843.8L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-BUICK)152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19843.8L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-BUICK) CA model152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19845.7L 8-cyl Automatic 4-spd Diesel(350 V8) (DIESEL), Diesel182621547.617.0$4,250484.76190476190476n/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
1985 → 198621 → 20 mpg-1 mpg575 gal
1986 → 198720 → 19 mpg-1 mpg605 gal
1987 → 198819 → 20 mpg+1 mpg575 gal
1989 → 199020 → 19 mpg-1 mpg605 gal
1990 → 199119 → 20 mpg+1 mpg575 gal
1991 → 199220 → 19 mpg-1 mpg605 gal
1992 → 199319 → 20 mpg+1 mpg575 gal
1997 → 199820 → 21 mpg+1 mpg548 gal
1999 → 200021 → 20 mpg-1 mpg575 gal
2001 → 200220 → 21 mpg+1 mpg548 gal

What LeSabre fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2005 Buick LeSabre 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 Large Cars

Across the 305 nameplates EPA classifies as Large Cars, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 21 mpg the Buick LeSabre is exactly at the median.

Other Buick nameplates

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