Tank Ledger

Pontiac Turbo Firefly MPG by year — every rating on record

The Pontiac Turbo Firefly has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1987 to 1990. Across those years its best rated version returned 34 mpg (1987) and its thirstiest returned 34 mpg (1987). The EPA record holds 4 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as Turbo Firefly and Turbo Sprint. The figures below cover every one of them.

34best combined mpg (1987)
34worst combined mpg (1987)
34latest year best (1990)
4configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1987134 mpg34 mpg#2 of 14 (92th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMinicompact Cars
1988134 mpg34 mpg#2 of 15 (93th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularMinicompact Cars
1989134 mpg34 mpg#10 of 71 (87th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1990134 mpg34 mpg#8 of 65 (89th 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 Turbo Firefly placed highest in 1987 at #2 of 14, and lowest in 1989 at #10 of 71. It spent 4 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 4 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19901.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) (SPFI), turbocharged313834338.28.8$1,850261.38235294117646n/a
19891.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged313834338.28.8$1,850261.38235294117646n/a
19881.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) (MPFI), turbocharged313934338.28.8$1,850261.38235294117646n/a
19871.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged313934338.28.8$1,850261.38235294117646n/a

What Turbo Firefly fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1990 Pontiac Turbo Firefly burns 338 to 338 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$1,015$1,015$0
$3.50/gal$1,184$1,184$0
$4.00/gal$1,353$1,353$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 1990 model year is $1,850 to $1,850 a year in fuel, or $2,000 less than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Minicompact Cars

Across the 153 nameplates EPA classifies as Minicompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 34 mpg the Pontiac Turbo Firefly is 13 mpg better the median, which is worth about $733 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.