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.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 12 | 26 mpg | 20 mpg | #15 of 36 (60th pct) | n/a | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1985 | 10 | 26 mpg | 19 mpg | #17 of 45 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1986 | 6 | 27 mpg | 20 mpg | #14 of 48 (72th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1987 | 6 | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | #9 of 57 (86th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1988 | 4 | 27 mpg | 25 mpg | #5 of 53 (92th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1989 | 2 | 26 mpg | 25 mpg | #10 of 49 (81th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact 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.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (121) (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (121) (FFS) | 22 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 29 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 30 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (122) (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (122) (FFS) | 23 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 19 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO), turbocharged | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (CAL)(FFS) | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (CAL)(FFS) | 23 | 32 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 32 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (CAL)(FFS) | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | (CAL)(FFS) | 23 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 23 | 32 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/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.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 → 1986 | 26 → 27 mpg | +1 mpg | 426 gal |
| 1986 → 1987 | 27 → 26 mpg | -1 mpg | 442 gal |
| 1987 → 1988 | 26 → 27 mpg | +1 mpg | 426 gal |
| 1988 → 1989 | 27 → 26 mpg | -1 mpg | 442 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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.
- All Compact Cars 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.