Mercury Lynx MPG by year — every rating on record
The Mercury Lynx has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1984 to 1987. Across those years its best rated version returned 40 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (1986). The EPA record holds 40 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 16 | 39 mpg | 23 mpg | #2 of 36 (97th pct) | n/a | Regular, Diesel | Compact Cars |
| 1985 | 13 | 40 mpg | 24 mpg | #2 of 45 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Compact Cars |
| 1986 | 6 | 34 mpg | 22 mpg | #6 of 48 (89th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Compact Cars |
| 1987 | 5 | 35 mpg | 25 mpg | #2 of 57 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Diesel | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Mercury Lynx placed highest in 1984 at #2 of 36, and lowest in 1986 at #6 of 48. It spent 4 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 31 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 38 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | (NO-CAT), Diesel | 31 | 40 | 35 | 328.6 | 10.2 | $2,550 | 290.85714285714283 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 26 | 35 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | (NO-CAT), Diesel | 31 | 39 | 34 | 338.2 | 10.5 | $2,650 | 299.4117647058824 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.6L 4-cyl | 22 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.6L 4-cyl | 22 | 32 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | CA model | 23 | 32 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | CA model | 24 | 33 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | CA model | 23 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (CALIF) | 23 | 33 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 23 | 33 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 28 | 39 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 277.71875 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 1.6L 4-cyl | 29 | 39 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | CA model, Diesel | 31 | 39 | 34 | 338.2 | 10.5 | $2,650 | 299.4117647058824 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | (CALIF), Diesel | 31 | 39 | 34 | 338.2 | 10.5 | $2,650 | 299.4117647058824 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, Diesel | 36 | 46 | 40 | 287.5 | 8.9 | $2,250 | 254.5 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.6L 4-cyl | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | CA model | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.6L 4-cyl | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 30 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | CA model | 21 | 31 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 22 | 30 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | CA model | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (CALIF) | 23 | 32 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | 1.6L 4-cyl | 28 | 39 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 277.71875 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel | (CALIF), Diesel | 31 | 39 | 34 | 338.2 | 10.5 | $2,650 | 299.4117647058824 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel | (DIESEL) CA model, Diesel | 31 | 39 | 34 | 338.2 | 10.5 | $2,650 | 299.4117647058824 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel | (DIESEL), Diesel | 35 | 47 | 39 | 294.9 | 9.2 | $2,300 | 261.02564102564105 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 → 1985 | 39 → 40 mpg | +1 mpg | 288 gal |
| 1985 → 1986 | 40 → 34 mpg | -6 mpg | 338 gal |
| 1986 → 1987 | 34 → 35 mpg | +1 mpg | 329 gal |
What Lynx fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1987 Mercury Lynx burns 329 to 460 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 | $986 | $1,380 | $394 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,150 | $1,610 | $460 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,314 | $1,840 | $526 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1987 model year is $2,000 to $2,550 a year in fuel, or $1,250 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 35 mpg the Mercury Lynx is 9 mpg better the median, which is worth about $398 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Mercury nameplates
Every Mercury model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.