Pontiac Sunbird Convertible MPG by year — every rating on record
The Pontiac Sunbird Convertible has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1985 to 1991. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 6 | 26 mpg | 19 mpg | #21 of 57 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1986 | 4 | 26 mpg | 20 mpg | #24 of 59 (60th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1987 | 4 | 26 mpg | 20 mpg | #27 of 72 (63th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1988 | 4 | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | #26 of 60 (58th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1989 | 4 | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | #36 of 71 (50th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1990 | 4 | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | #35 of 65 (47th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1991 | 4 | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | #33 of 73 (56th 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 Pontiac Sunbird Convertible placed highest in 1985 at #21 of 57, and lowest in 1989 at #36 of 71. It spent 6 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1991 | 3.1L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 31 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (122) (FFS) | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (122) (FFS) | 23 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 19 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 32 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO), turbocharged | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium | (FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (CAL)(FFS) | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (CAL)(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. 0 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 → 1988 | 26 → 25 mpg | -1 mpg | 460 gal |
| 1988 → 1989 | 25 → 24 mpg | -1 mpg | 479 gal |
What Sunbird Convertible fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird Convertible burns 479 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,438 | $1,725 | $288 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,677 | $2,013 | $335 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,917 | $2,300 | $383 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1991 model year is $2,600 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $2,250 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 24 mpg the Pontiac Sunbird Convertible is exactly at the median.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Pontiac nameplates
Every Pontiac model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.