Volvo 740 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volvo 740 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1989 to 1992. Across those years its best rated version returned 22 mpg (1991) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1989). The EPA record holds 20 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 8 | 21 mpg | 18 mpg | #23 of 52 (57th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1990 | 6 | 21 mpg | 18 mpg | #17 of 51 (68th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1991 | 4 | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | #8 of 57 (88th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1992 | 2 | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | #19 of 50 (63th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volvo 740 placed highest in 1991 at #8 of 57, and lowest in 1989 at #23 of 52. It spent 4 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 17 | 20 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1992 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 17 | 20 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 16 | 20 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (EGR) (FFS) | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (EGR) (FFS) | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (TURBO) (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 17 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (16-VALVE) (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (EGR) (FFS) | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (16-VALVE) (FFS) | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (TURBO) (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (BENDIX) (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1989 | 2.3L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (EGR) (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 → 1991 | 21 → 22 mpg | +1 mpg | 523 gal |
| 1991 → 1992 | 22 → 20 mpg | -2 mpg | 575 gal |
What 740 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1992 Volvo 740 burns 575 to 639 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 | $1,725 | $1,917 | $192 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,013 | $2,236 | $224 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,300 | $2,556 | $256 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1992 model year is $3,100 to $3,450 a year in fuel, or $6,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 20 mpg the Volvo 740 is 5 mpg below the median, which is worth about $403 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volvo nameplates
Every Volvo model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.