Tank Ledger

Toyota Tercel Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Toyota Tercel Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1984 to 1988. Across those years its best rated version returned 29 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 25 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.

29best combined mpg (1984)
22worst combined mpg (1985)
25latest year best (1988)
25configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984829 mpg23 mpg#6 of 18 (71th pct)n/aRegularSmall Station Wagons
1985729 mpg22 mpg#6 of 18 (71th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1986429 mpg22 mpg#4 of 18 (82th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1987428 mpg22 mpg#4 of 20 (84th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1988225 mpg22 mpg#15 of 25 (42th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Toyota Tercel Wagon placed highest in 1986 at #4 of 18, and lowest in 1988 at #15 of 25. It spent 4 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 25 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19881.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19881.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232825460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232825460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)252826442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)253328410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)242826442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)263329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model222423500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model252826442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)252926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model263529396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)263329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)222423500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model222423500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)252926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model252826442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model243026442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)263329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19841.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model263529396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/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
1986 → 198729 → 28 mpg-1 mpg411 gal
1987 → 198828 → 25 mpg-3 mpg460 gal

What Tercel Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1988 Toyota Tercel Wagon burns 460 to 523 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$1,380$1,568$188
$3.50/gal$1,610$1,830$220
$4.00/gal$1,840$2,091$251

EPA’s own estimate for the 1988 model year is $2,500 to $2,850 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Small Station Wagons

Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 25 mpg the Toyota Tercel Wagon is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $119 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Toyota nameplates

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