Tank Ledger

Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais MPG by year — every rating on record

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1988 to 1991. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (1988) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1991). The EPA record holds 21 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

26best combined mpg (1988)
19worst combined mpg (1991)
24latest year best (1991)
21configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1988526 mpg20 mpg#12 of 53 (79th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1989525 mpg20 mpg#17 of 49 (67th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1990523 mpg20 mpg#21 of 46 (56th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1991624 mpg19 mpg#21 of 60 (66th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumCompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais placed highest in 1988 at #12 of 53, and lowest in 1990 at #21 of 46. It spent 4 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 21 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19913.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19912.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19912.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192822522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19912.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)193123500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19912.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19912.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS)213024479.212.4$3,250370.2916666666667n/a
19903.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19902.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19902.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)192923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19902.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19902.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)193023500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19893.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19892.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19892.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19892.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19892.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213225460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19883.0L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19882.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19882.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19882.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)213125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19882.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)223326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1988 → 198926 → 25 mpg-1 mpg460 gal
1989 → 199025 → 23 mpg-2 mpg500 gal
1990 → 199123 → 24 mpg+1 mpg479 gal

What Cutlass Calais fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais burns 479 to 605 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$1,438$1,816$378
$3.50/gal$1,677$2,118$441
$4.00/gal$1,917$2,421$504

EPA’s own estimate for the 1991 model year is $2,600 to $3,900 a year in fuel, or $1,750 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 24 mpg the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $129 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.