Mercedes-Benz 300SE MPG by year — every rating on record
The Mercedes-Benz 300SE has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 1988 to 1993. Across those years its best rated version returned 16 mpg (1988) and its thirstiest returned 15 mpg (1992). The EPA record holds 6 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #51 of 53 (4th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1989 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #48 of 49 (2th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1990 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #45 of 46 (2th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1991 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #52 of 60 (14th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1992 | 1 | 15 mpg | 15 mpg | #19 of 24 (22th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars |
| 1993 | 1 | 15 mpg | 15 mpg | #21 of 25 (17th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Mercedes-Benz 300SE placed highest in 1992 at #19 of 24, and lowest in 1991 at #52 of 60. It spent 0 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 3.2L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $5,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1992 | 3.2L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 14 | 17 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $5,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1991 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 19 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1990 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 17 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1989 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 17 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1988 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 17 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 → 1992 | 16 → 15 mpg | -1 mpg | 767 gal |
What 300SE fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SE burns 767 to 767 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 | $2,300 | $2,300 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,683 | $2,683 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $3,067 | $3,067 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1993 model year is $5,150 to $5,150 a year in fuel, or $14,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 15 mpg the Mercedes-Benz 300SE is 11 mpg below the median, which is worth about $1,135 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Mercedes-Benz nameplates
Every Mercedes-Benz model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.