Tank Ledger

Oldsmobile Calais MPG by year — every rating on record

The Oldsmobile Calais has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 1985 to 1987. Across those years its best rated version returned 25 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 10 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

25best combined mpg (1985)
19worst combined mpg (1985)
23latest year best (1987)
10configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1985425 mpg19 mpg#24 of 45 (48th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1986324 mpg20 mpg#27 of 48 (45th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1987323 mpg20 mpg#33 of 57 (43th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Oldsmobile Calais placed highest in 1985 at #24 of 45, and lowest in 1987 at #33 of 57. It spent 0 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 10 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19873.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19872.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19872.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)193023500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19863.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19862.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19862.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213124479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19853.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19853.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1985 → 198625 → 24 mpg-1 mpg479 gal
1986 → 198724 → 23 mpg-1 mpg500 gal

What Calais fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1987 Oldsmobile Calais burns 500 to 575 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$1,500$1,725$225
$3.50/gal$1,750$2,013$263
$4.00/gal$2,000$2,300$300

EPA’s own estimate for the 1987 model year is $2,700 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $2,250 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 23 mpg the Oldsmobile Calais is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $202 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Oldsmobile nameplates

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