Tank Ledger

Cadillac Catera MPG by year — every rating on record

The Cadillac Catera has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1997 to 2001. Across those years its best rated version returned 19 mpg (1997) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1998). The EPA record holds 5 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

19best combined mpg (1997)
18worst combined mpg (1998)
18latest year best (2001)
5configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1997119 mpg19 mpg#24 of 43 (45th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
1998118 mpg18 mpg#34 of 47 (28th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1999118 mpg18 mpg#41 of 56 (27th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2000118 mpg18 mpg#39 of 51 (24th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2001118 mpg18 mpg#40 of 54 (26th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Cadillac Catera placed highest in 1997 at #24 of 43, and lowest in 1999 at #41 of 56. It spent 0 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 5 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20013.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.0L 6-cyl162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
20003.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19993.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19983.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular3.0L 6-cyl162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19973.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS) (MPFI)162319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1997 → 199819 → 18 mpg-1 mpg639 gal

What Catera fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2001 Cadillac Catera 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$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 2001 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 Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 18 mpg the Cadillac Catera is 7 mpg below the median, which is worth about $626 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Cadillac nameplates

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