Tank Ledger

Mercedes-Benz S500 Coupe MPG by year — every rating on record

The Mercedes-Benz S500 Coupe has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1994 to 1997. Across those years its best rated version returned 16 mpg (1996) and its thirstiest returned 14 mpg (1994). The EPA record holds 4 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

16best combined mpg (1996)
14worst combined mpg (1994)
16latest year best (1997)
4configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1994114 mpg14 mpg#50 of 53 (6th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1995115 mpg15 mpg#57 of 60 (5th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1996116 mpg16 mpg#49 of 52 (6th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1997116 mpg16 mpg#44 of 46 (4th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact 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 S500 Coupe placed highest in 1997 at #44 of 46, and lowest in 1995 at #57 of 60. It spent 0 of its 4 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
19975.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)142016718.818.6$4,850555.4375n/a
19965.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)142016718.818.6$4,850555.4375n/a
19955.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)131815766.719.8$5,150592.4666666666667n/a
19945.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)131814821.421.3$5,550634.7857142857143n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1994 → 199514 → 15 mpg+1 mpg767 gal
1995 → 199615 → 16 mpg+1 mpg719 gal

What S500 Coupe fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 Coupe burns 719 to 719 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$2,156$2,156$0
$3.50/gal$2,516$2,516$0
$4.00/gal$2,875$2,875$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 1997 model year is $4,850 to $4,850 a year in fuel, or $13,000 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 16 mpg the Mercedes-Benz S500 Coupe is 10 mpg below the median, which is worth about $968 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Mercedes-Benz nameplates

Every Mercedes-Benz model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.