Chevrolet Caprice MPG by year — every rating on record
The Chevrolet Caprice has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 8 model years, from 1986 to 1993. Across those years its best rated version returned 20 mpg (1988) and its thirstiest returned 14 mpg (1986). The EPA record holds 28 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 5 | 19 mpg | 14 mpg | #7 of 15 (57th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1987 | 5 | 19 mpg | 15 mpg | #4 of 15 (79th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1988 | 3 | 20 mpg | 14 mpg | #5 of 20 (79th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1989 | 3 | 20 mpg | 15 mpg | #5 of 16 (73th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1990 | 3 | 20 mpg | 15 mpg | #2 of 16 (93th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1991 | 2 | 18 mpg | 15 mpg | #11 of 19 (44th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1992 | 3 | 19 mpg | 15 mpg | #7 of 24 (74th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 1993 | 4 | 19 mpg | 15 mpg | #11 of 25 (58th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Chevrolet Caprice placed highest in 1990 at #2 of 16, and lowest in 1991 at #11 of 19. It spent 7 of its 8 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (GUZZLER) (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 19 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1993 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (FFS) | 15 | 23 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1993 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1993 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1992 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 19 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1992 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-CHEV) (FFS) | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1992 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1991 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 19 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1991 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-CHEV) (FFS) | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1990 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1990 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-CHEV) (FFS) | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1990 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1989 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 19 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1989 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GM-CHEV) (FFS) | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1989 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 12 | 19 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (305) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1988 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 19 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (305) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1987 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (307) (FFS) | 16 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1987 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.7L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (350 V8) (POLICE) (FFS) | 12 | 18 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1986 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (305) (FFS) | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1986 | 4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (307) (FFS) | 16 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 → 1988 | 19 → 20 mpg | +1 mpg | 575 gal |
| 1990 → 1991 | 20 → 18 mpg | -2 mpg | 639 gal |
| 1991 → 1992 | 18 → 19 mpg | +1 mpg | 605 gal |
What Caprice fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1993 Chevrolet Caprice burns 605 to 767 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 | $1,816 | $2,300 | $484 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,118 | $2,683 | $565 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,421 | $3,067 | $646 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1993 model year is $3,300 to $4,150 a year in fuel, or $5,250 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 19 mpg the Chevrolet Caprice is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $202 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Large Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Chevrolet nameplates
Every Chevrolet model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.