Dodge Diplomat MPG by year — every rating on record
The Dodge Diplomat has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 1984 to 1989. Across those years its best rated version returned 18 mpg (1988) and its thirstiest returned 12 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 18 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as Diplomat and Gran Fury. The figures below cover every one of them.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3 | 15 mpg | 13 mpg | #28 of 32 (13th pct) | n/a | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1985 | 3 | 17 mpg | 12 mpg | #30 of 34 (12th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1986 | 3 | 16 mpg | 12 mpg | #33 of 38 (14th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1987 | 3 | 17 mpg | 12 mpg | #33 of 38 (14th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1988 | 3 | 18 mpg | 12 mpg | #32 of 43 (26th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1989 | 3 | 17 mpg | 12 mpg | #41 of 52 (22th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Dodge Diplomat placed highest in 1984 at #28 of 32, and lowest in 1989 at #41 of 52. It spent 0 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 18 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 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (POLICE) (FFS) | 11 | 14 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $6,450 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
| 1989 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (POLICE) (FFS) | 13 | 17 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $5,550 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1989 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (POLICE) (FFS) 4 barrel carb | 11 | 14 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $6,450 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (POLICE) (FFS) 2 barrel carb | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $5,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (POLICE) (FFS) 4 barrel carb | 11 | 14 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $5,200 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (POLICE) (FFS) 2 barrel carb | 13 | 16 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (POLICE) (FFS) | 11 | 14 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $5,200 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (POLICE) (FFS) | 14 | 16 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1985 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (POLICE) (FFS) | 11 | 14 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $6,450 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
| 1985 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS) CA model | 15 | 19 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1985 | 5.2L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS) | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1984 | 5.2L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) | 12 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1984 | 5.2L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 5.2L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 5 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 → 1985 | 15 → 17 mpg | +2 mpg | 676 gal |
| 1985 → 1986 | 17 → 16 mpg | -1 mpg | 719 gal |
| 1986 → 1987 | 16 → 17 mpg | +1 mpg | 676 gal |
| 1987 → 1988 | 17 → 18 mpg | +1 mpg | 639 gal |
| 1988 → 1989 | 18 → 17 mpg | -1 mpg | 676 gal |
What Diplomat fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1989 Dodge Diplomat burns 676 to 958 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 | $2,029 | $2,875 | $846 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,368 | $3,354 | $987 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,706 | $3,833 | $1,127 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1989 model year is $4,550 to $6,450 a year in fuel, or $16,500 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 17 mpg the Dodge Diplomat is 8 mpg below the median, which is worth about $758 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Dodge nameplates
Every Dodge model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.