Pontiac Sunbird MPG by year — every rating on record

The Pontiac Sunbird has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 10 model years, from 1985 to 1994. Across those years its best rated version returned 28 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 47 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Pontiac Sunbird placed highest in 1988 at #9 of 53, and lowest in 1992 at #26 of 69. It spent 10 of its 10 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 47 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Sunbird fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1994 Pontiac Sunbird burns 442 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.

EPA’s own estimate for the 1994 model year is $2,400 to $3,100 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 26 mpg the Pontiac Sunbird is exactly at the median.

• All Compact 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.