Volkswagen Cabriolet MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volkswagen Cabriolet has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 9 model years, from 1985 to 1993. Across those years its best rated version returned 25 mpg (1990) and its thirstiest returned 20 mpg (1988). The EPA record holds 18 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Minicompact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #4 of 8 (57th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1986 | 2 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #5 of 12 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1987 | 2 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #6 of 14 (62th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1988 | 2 | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | #7 of 15 (57th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1989 | 2 | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | #2 of 12 (91th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1990 | 2 | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | #1 of 8 (100th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1991 | 2 | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | #2 of 10 (89th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1992 | 2 | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | #3 of 12 (82th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
| 1993 | 2 | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | #4 of 10 (67th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Cabriolet placed highest in 1990 at #1 of 8, and lowest in 1988 at #7 of 15. It spent 9 of its 9 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 22 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 25 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 22 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 25 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 20 | 23 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 20 | 23 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 20 | 23 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 → 1990 | 23 → 25 mpg | +2 mpg | 460 gal |
| 1992 → 1993 | 25 → 24 mpg | -1 mpg | 479 gal |
What Cabriolet fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1993 Volkswagen Cabriolet burns 479 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,438 | $1,568 | $131 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,677 | $1,830 | $152 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,917 | $2,091 | $174 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1993 model year is $2,600 to $2,850 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more 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 24 mpg the Volkswagen Cabriolet is 3 mpg better the median, which is worth about $240 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Minicompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volkswagen nameplates
Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.