Buick Skylark MPG by year — every rating on record

The Buick Skylark has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 13 model years, from 1984 to 1998. Across those years its best rated version returned 25 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 46 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Buick Skylark placed highest in 1988 at #14 of 53, and lowest in 1995 at #30 of 60. It spent 10 of its 13 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 46 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 7 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Skylark fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1998 Buick Skylark burns 500 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.

EPA’s own estimate for the 1998 model year is $2,700 to $2,950 a year in fuel, or $2,250 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 23 mpg the Buick Skylark is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $202 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• 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.