Mercedes-Benz 300SEL MPG by year — every rating on record
The Mercedes-Benz 300SEL has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1988 to 1991. Across those years its best rated version returned 16 mpg (1988) and its thirstiest returned 15 mpg (1989). The EPA record holds 8 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars / 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 | #39 of 43 (10th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1989 | 2 | 16 mpg | 15 mpg | #45 of 52 (14th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Midsize Cars, Large Cars |
| 1990 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #43 of 51 (16th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1991 | 4 | 16 mpg | 15 mpg | #43 of 57 (25th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Midsize Cars, 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 300SEL placed highest in 1988 at #39 of 43, and lowest in 1989 at #45 of 52. It spent 0 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 14 | 16 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1991 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 16 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1991 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) FFS MPFI (FFS) | 15 | 16 | 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 Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 16 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | 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 |
What 300SEL fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL burns 719 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 | $2,156 | $2,300 | $144 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,516 | $2,683 | $168 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,875 | $3,067 | $192 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1991 model year is $4,150 to $5,150 a year in fuel, or $9,500 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 16 mpg the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL is 9 mpg below the median, which is worth about $906 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize 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.