Tank Ledger

Volvo 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volvo 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 2 model years, from 1984 to 1985. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 17 mpg (1984). The EPA record holds 19 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize-Large Station Wagons.

In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon and 240 DL/GL/turbo Wagon. The figures below cover every one of them.

26best combined mpg (1984)
17worst combined mpg (1984)
22latest year best (1985)
19configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
19841426 mpg17 mpg#1 of 13 (100th pct)n/aRegular, DieselMidsize Station Wagons
1985522 mpg17 mpg#8 of 20 (63th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volvo 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon placed highest in 1984 at #1 of 13, and lowest in 1985 at #8 of 20. It spent 2 of its 2 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 19 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19852.1L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged152117676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19852.1L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged151917676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19852.1L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19852.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19852.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)202622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19842.1L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged162017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19842.1L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged162017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19842.1L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged162118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19842.1L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged162118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular2.3L 4-cyl182219605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd RegularCA model182219605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)182220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model182220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)192521547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model192521547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular2.3L 4-cyl202422522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19842.3L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd RegularCA model202422522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19842.4L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Diesel(DIESEL), Diesel222624479.214.9$3,750424.1666666666667n/a
19842.4L 6-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel(DIESEL), Diesel233126442.313.7$3,450391.53846153846155n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198526 → 22 mpg-4 mpg523 gal

What 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1985 Volvo 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon burns 523 to 676 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$1,568$2,029$461
$3.50/gal$1,830$2,368$538
$4.00/gal$2,091$2,706$615

EPA’s own estimate for the 1985 model year is $2,850 to $3,650 a year in fuel, or $7,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Station Wagons

Across the 65 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 22 mpg the Volvo 240 DL/GL/Turbo Wagon is exactly at the median.

Other Volvo nameplates

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