Mercedes-Benz 560SEL MPG by year — every rating on record
The Mercedes-Benz 560SEL has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1986 to 1992. Across those years its best rated version returned 14 mpg (1991) and its thirstiest returned 11 mpg (1992). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 1 | 13 mpg | 13 mpg | #35 of 38 (8th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1987 | 1 | 13 mpg | 13 mpg | #36 of 38 (5th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1988 | 1 | 13 mpg | 13 mpg | #41 of 43 (5th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1989 | 1 | 13 mpg | 13 mpg | #49 of 52 (6th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1990 | 1 | 13 mpg | 13 mpg | #49 of 51 (4th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1991 | 1 | 14 mpg | 14 mpg | #51 of 57 (11th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1992 | 1 | 11 mpg | 11 mpg | #47 of 50 (6th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize 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 560SEL placed highest in 1986 at #35 of 38, and lowest in 1991 at #51 of 57. It spent 0 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 5.6L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 10 | 13 | 11 | 1045.5 | 27.0 | $7,050 | 807.9090909090909 | n/a |
| 1991 | 5.6L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 12 | 16 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $5,550 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1990 | 5.6L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 12 | 16 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1989 | 5.6L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 12 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1988 | 5.6L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 12 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1987 | 5.6L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 12 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1986 | 5.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 12 | 15 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 → 1991 | 13 → 14 mpg | +1 mpg | 821 gal |
| 1991 → 1992 | 14 → 11 mpg | -3 mpg | 1045 gal |
What 560SEL fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL burns 1045 to 1045 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 | $3,136 | $3,136 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $3,659 | $3,659 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $4,182 | $4,182 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1992 model year is $7,050 to $7,050 a year in fuel, or $24,000 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 11 mpg the Mercedes-Benz 560SEL is 14 mpg below the median, which is worth about $2,049 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.