Tank Ledger

Pontiac 6000 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Pontiac 6000 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 8 model years, from 1984 to 1991. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1986). The EPA record holds 40 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

26best combined mpg (1985)
18worst combined mpg (1986)
22latest year best (1991)
40configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984725 mpg19 mpg#7 of 32 (81th pct)n/aRegular, DieselMidsize Cars
1985826 mpg19 mpg#4 of 34 (91th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, DieselMidsize Cars
1986523 mpg18 mpg#10 of 38 (76th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1987423 mpg20 mpg#10 of 38 (76th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1988524 mpg18 mpg#11 of 43 (76th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1989423 mpg18 mpg#15 of 52 (73th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1990423 mpg18 mpg#8 of 51 (86th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars
1991322 mpg20 mpg#7 of 57 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Pontiac 6000 placed highest in 1985 at #4 of 34, and lowest in 1989 at #15 of 52. It spent 8 of its 8 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
19913.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19913.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172820575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19912.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192822522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19903.1L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19903.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19903.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172720575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19902.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19893.1L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19892.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19892.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19892.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19883.1L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)152118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182721547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19882.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19882.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19872.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-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
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19862.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19862.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192923500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model172319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19852.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19854.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd DieselCA model, Diesel233126442.313.7$3,450391.53846153846155n/a
19854.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Diesel4.3L 6-cyl, Diesel233226442.313.7$3,450391.53846153846155n/a
19842.8L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)172319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19842.8L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model172219605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model202823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19844.3L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Diesel(DIESEL) CA model212924479.214.9$3,750424.1666666666667n/a
19844.3L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Diesel(DIESEL) CA model213124479.214.9$3,750424.1666666666667n/a
19844.3L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Diesel(DIESEL)213125460.014.3$3,600407.2n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 5 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198525 → 26 mpg+1 mpg442 gal
1985 → 198626 → 23 mpg-3 mpg500 gal
1987 → 198823 → 24 mpg+1 mpg479 gal
1988 → 198924 → 23 mpg-1 mpg500 gal
1990 → 199123 → 22 mpg-1 mpg523 gal

What 6000 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1991 Pontiac 6000 burns 523 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$1,568$1,725$157
$3.50/gal$1,830$2,013$183
$4.00/gal$2,091$2,300$209

EPA’s own estimate for the 1991 model year is $2,850 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 22 mpg the Pontiac 6000 is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $220 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Pontiac nameplates

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