Tank Ledger

Grumman Olson Kubvan MPG by year — every rating on record

The Grumman Olson Kubvan has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 2 model years, from 1984 to 1985. Across those years its best rated version returned 31 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 26 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 4 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Special Purpose Vehicles.

31best combined mpg (1984)
26worst combined mpg (1985)
31latest year best (1985)
4configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984231 mpg27 mpg#1 of 14 (100th pct)2-Wheel DriveDieselSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD
1985231 mpg26 mpg#1 of 25 (100th pct)Front-Wheel DriveDieselSpecial Purpose Vehicles

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Grumman Olson Kubvan placed highest in 1984 at #1 of 14, and lowest in 1984 at #1 of 14. It spent 2 of its 2 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 4 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Diesel1.6L 4-cyl, Diesel262726442.313.7$3,450391.53846153846155n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel1.6L 4-cyl, Diesel303231371.011.5$2,900328.38709677419354n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl 2-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Diesel(DIESEL), Diesel272727425.913.2$3,300377.037037037037n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl 2-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel(DIESEL), Diesel313231371.011.5$2,900328.38709677419354n/a

What Kubvan fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1985 Grumman Olson Kubvan burns 371 to 442 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$1,113$1,327$214
$3.50/gal$1,298$1,548$250
$4.00/gal$1,484$1,769$285

EPA’s own estimate for the 1985 model year is $2,900 to $3,450 a year in fuel, or $6,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Special Purpose Vehicles

Across the 113 nameplates EPA classifies as Special Purpose Vehicles, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 31 mpg the Grumman Olson Kubvan is 10 mpg better the median, which is worth about $618 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Where Grumman Olson sits

Grumman Olson has too few nameplates on record for a make-level page of its own, so this nameplate stands alone here. Every make we cover →