Tank Ledger

Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 1984 to 1994. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 47 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.

26best combined mpg (1985)
18worst combined mpg (1985)
24latest year best (1994)
47configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984625 mpg22 mpg#10 of 18 (47th pct)n/aRegularSmall Station Wagons
19851026 mpg18 mpg#8 of 18 (59th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1986525 mpg19 mpg#9 of 18 (53th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1987525 mpg20 mpg#11 of 20 (47th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1988426 mpg20 mpg#13 of 25 (50th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1989426 mpg20 mpg#11 of 19 (44th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1990426 mpg20 mpg#7 of 16 (60th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1991324 mpg20 mpg#5 of 13 (67th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1992224 mpg21 mpg#4 of 12 (73th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1993223 mpg21 mpg#7 of 13 (50th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1994224 mpg20 mpg#5 of 13 (67th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon placed highest in 1992 at #4 of 12, and lowest in 1988 at #13 of 25. It spent 8 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 47 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19943.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)182620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19942.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)222824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19933.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19932.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19923.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19922.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19913.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19912.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19912.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19903.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19903.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19902.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19902.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)223326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19892.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19892.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)162620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
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
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/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 Manual 5-spd Regular(121) (FFS)223326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd RegularN (FFS)182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)172520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/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 Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)223125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)162319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model172319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model212924479.212.4$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 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)233226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/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
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model213125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 6 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198525 → 26 mpg+1 mpg442 gal
1985 → 198626 → 25 mpg-1 mpg460 gal
1987 → 198825 → 26 mpg+1 mpg442 gal
1990 → 199126 → 24 mpg-2 mpg479 gal
1992 → 199324 → 23 mpg-1 mpg500 gal
1993 → 199423 → 24 mpg+1 mpg479 gal

What Cavalier Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon burns 479 to 575 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$1,438$1,725$288
$3.50/gal$1,677$2,013$335
$4.00/gal$1,917$2,300$383

EPA’s own estimate for the 1994 model year is $2,600 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $1,750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Small Station Wagons

Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 24 mpg the Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $186 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Chevrolet nameplates

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