Nissan Sentra Coupe MPG by year — every rating on record
The Nissan Sentra Coupe has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1987 to 1990. Across those years its best rated version returned 28 mpg (1988) and its thirstiest returned 24 mpg (1988). The EPA record holds 8 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 2 | 26 mpg | 25 mpg | #25 of 72 (66th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1988 | 2 | 28 mpg | 24 mpg | #20 of 60 (68th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1989 | 2 | 27 mpg | 25 mpg | #26 of 71 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1990 | 2 | 27 mpg | 25 mpg | #23 of 65 (66th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Nissan Sentra Coupe placed highest in 1988 at #20 of 60, and lowest in 1989 at #26 of 71. It spent 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 28 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 33 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 27 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 33 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 26 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 25 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 32 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 → 1988 | 26 → 28 mpg | +2 mpg | 411 gal |
| 1988 → 1989 | 28 → 27 mpg | -1 mpg | 426 gal |
What Sentra Coupe fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1990 Nissan Sentra Coupe burns 426 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 | $1,278 | $1,380 | $102 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,491 | $1,610 | $119 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,704 | $1,840 | $136 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1990 model year is $2,300 to $2,500 a year in fuel, or $1,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 27 mpg the Nissan Sentra Coupe is 3 mpg better the median, which is worth about $186 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Nissan nameplates
Every Nissan model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.