GMC S15 Cab Chassis MPG by year — every rating on record
The GMC S15 Cab Chassis has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1984 to 1988. Across those years its best rated version returned 17 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 13 mpg (1984). The EPA record holds 16 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 4 | 15 mpg | 13 mpg | #3 of 7 (67th pct) | 2-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| 1985 | 4 | 17 mpg | 13 mpg | #10 of 16 (40th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD |
| 1986 | 3 | 17 mpg | 13 mpg | #11 of 16 (33th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD |
| 1987 | 3 | 17 mpg | 13 mpg | #10 of 15 (36th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD |
| 1988 | 2 | 14 mpg | 14 mpg | #15 of 18 (18th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The GMC S15 Cab Chassis placed highest in 1984 at #3 of 7, and lowest in 1988 at #15 of 18. It spent 1 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 14 | 15 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 12 | 14 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 13 | 14 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 12 | 14 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 13 | 14 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 18 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 13 | 14 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 12 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 14 | 14 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.8L 6-cyl 2-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 13 | 13 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.8L 6-cyl 2-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 13 | 14 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.8L 6-cyl 2-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 13 | 15 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl 2-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 2.0L 4-cyl | 15 | 16 | 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. 1 of 2 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 |
| 1987 → 1988 | 17 → 14 mpg | -3 mpg | 821 gal |
What S15 Cab Chassis fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1988 GMC S15 Cab Chassis burns 821 to 821 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 | $2,464 | $2,464 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,875 | $2,875 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $3,286 | $3,286 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1988 model year is $4,450 to $4,450 a year in fuel, or $11,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Across the 93 nameplates EPA classifies as Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 14 mpg the GMC S15 Cab Chassis is 8 mpg below the median, which is worth about $1,045 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other GMC nameplates
Every GMC model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.