Ford Laser MPG by year — every rating on record
The Ford Laser has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 1984 to 1989. Across those years its best rated version returned 30 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 24 mpg (1986). The EPA record holds 13 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 2 | 27 mpg | 26 mpg | #19 of 57 (68th pct) | n/a | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1985 | 3 | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | #12 of 57 (80th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1986 | 2 | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | #32 of 59 (47th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1987 | 2 | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | #30 of 57 (48th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1988 | 2 | 25 mpg | 24 mpg | #19 of 53 (65th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1989 | 2 | 25 mpg | 24 mpg | #16 of 49 (69th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Ford Laser placed highest in 1985 at #12 of 57, and lowest in 1986 at #32 of 59. It spent 4 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 13 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 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 27 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 27 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 28 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 29 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 35 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 28 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.5L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 29 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 → 1985 | 27 → 30 mpg | +3 mpg | 383 gal |
| 1985 → 1986 | 30 → 24 mpg | -6 mpg | 479 gal |
| 1987 → 1988 | 24 → 25 mpg | +1 mpg | 460 gal |
What Laser fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1989 Ford Laser burns 460 to 479 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 | $1,380 | $1,438 | $58 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,610 | $1,677 | $67 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,840 | $1,917 | $77 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1989 model year is $2,500 to $2,600 a year in fuel, or $1,750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 25 mpg the Ford Laser is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $67 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Ford nameplates
Every Ford model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.