Tank Ledger

Buick Skyhawk MPG by year — every rating on record

The Buick Skyhawk has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 1984 to 1989. Across those years its best rated version returned 27 mpg (1986) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 40 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

27best combined mpg (1986)
19worst combined mpg (1985)
26latest year best (1989)
40configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
19841226 mpg20 mpg#15 of 36 (60th pct)n/aRegularCompact Cars
19851026 mpg19 mpg#17 of 45 (64th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularCompact Cars
1986627 mpg20 mpg#14 of 48 (72th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularCompact Cars
1987626 mpg21 mpg#9 of 57 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumCompact Cars
1988427 mpg25 mpg#5 of 53 (92th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1989226 mpg25 mpg#10 of 49 (81th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Buick Skyhawk placed highest in 1988 at #5 of 53, and lowest in 1985 at #17 of 45. It spent 6 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 40 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)233326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(121) (FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(121) (FFS)223326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)233427425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182922522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(122) (FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(122) (FFS)233326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)233427425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO), turbocharged182320575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO), turbocharged192421547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged192722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(CAL)(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)222724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(CAL)(FFS)233226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)233226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged182320575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged202622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(CAL)(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(CAL)(FFS)233326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model233226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1985 → 198626 → 27 mpg+1 mpg426 gal
1986 → 198727 → 26 mpg-1 mpg442 gal
1987 → 198826 → 27 mpg+1 mpg426 gal
1988 → 198927 → 26 mpg-1 mpg442 gal

What Skyhawk fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1989 Buick Skyhawk burns 442 to 460 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$1,327$1,380$53
$3.50/gal$1,548$1,610$62
$4.00/gal$1,769$1,840$71

EPA’s own estimate for the 1989 model year is $2,400 to $2,500 a year in fuel, or $1,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Compact Cars

Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 26 mpg the Buick Skyhawk 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.