Tank Ledger

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.

40best combined mpg (1985)
22worst combined mpg (1986)
35latest year best (1987)
40configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
19841639 mpg23 mpg#2 of 36 (97th pct)n/aRegular, DieselCompact Cars
19851340 mpg24 mpg#2 of 45 (98th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, DieselCompact Cars
1986634 mpg22 mpg#6 of 48 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, DieselCompact Cars
1987535 mpg25 mpg#2 of 57 (98th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, DieselCompact 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.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19871.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19871.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)223125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19871.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)243428410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19871.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)273831371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel(NO-CAT), Diesel314035328.610.2$2,550290.85714285714283n/a
19861.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19861.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular1.9L 4-cyl212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19861.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19861.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular1.9L 4-cyl233126442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19861.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular1.9L 4-cyl263529396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel(NO-CAT), Diesel313934338.210.5$2,650299.4117647058824n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular1.6L 4-cyl222824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19851.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular1.9L 4-cyl232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular1.6L 4-cyl223226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd RegularCA model233227425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd RegularCA model243327425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularCA model233427425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(CALIF)233327425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular1.9L 4-cyl233327425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular1.9L 4-cyl283932359.49.3$1,950277.71875n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular1.6L 4-cyl293933348.59.0$1,900269.3030303030303n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd DieselCA model, Diesel313934338.210.5$2,650299.4117647058824n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel(CALIF), Diesel313934338.210.5$2,650299.4117647058824n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, Diesel364640287.58.9$2,250254.5n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular1.6L 4-cyl212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd RegularCA model212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular1.6L 4-cyl212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model212724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd RegularCA model213125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd RegularCA model233126442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(CALIF)233227425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular1.6L 4-cyl283932359.49.3$1,950277.71875n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel(CALIF), Diesel313934338.210.5$2,650299.4117647058824n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel(DIESEL) CA model, Diesel313934338.210.5$2,650299.4117647058824n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel(DIESEL), Diesel354739294.99.2$2,300261.02564102564105n/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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198539 → 40 mpg+1 mpg288 gal
1985 → 198640 → 34 mpg-6 mpg338 gal
1986 → 198734 → 35 mpg+1 mpg329 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$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.

Other Mercury nameplates

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