Tank Ledger

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.

26best combined mpg (1985)
19worst combined mpg (1985)
24latest year best (1991)
30configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1985626 mpg19 mpg#21 of 57 (64th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
1986426 mpg20 mpg#24 of 59 (60th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
1987426 mpg20 mpg#27 of 72 (63th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
1988425 mpg20 mpg#26 of 60 (58th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
1989424 mpg21 mpg#36 of 71 (50th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
1990424 mpg21 mpg#35 of 65 (47th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSubcompact Cars
1991424 mpg20 mpg#33 of 73 (56th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact 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.

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 Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19912.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19912.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19902.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19902.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19902.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19902.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)213024479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212924479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)223125460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(122) (FFS)212724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(122) (FFS)233326442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged182420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)233226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO), turbocharged182320575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO), turbocharged192421547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Premium(FFS/TRBO) CA model, turbocharged192722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(CAL)(FFS)212723500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(CAL)(FFS)233226442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/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
1987 → 198826 → 25 mpg-1 mpg460 gal
1988 → 198925 → 24 mpg-1 mpg479 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$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.

Other Pontiac nameplates

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