Tank Ledger

Volvo 960 Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volvo 960 Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1992 to 1996. Across those years its best rated version returned 19 mpg (1992) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1993). The EPA record holds 6 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.

19best combined mpg (1992)
18worst combined mpg (1993)
19latest year best (1996)
6configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1992119 mpg19 mpg#14 of 22 (38th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons
1993118 mpg18 mpg#16 of 19 (17th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons
1994118 mpg18 mpg#17 of 17 (0th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons
1995118 mpg18 mpg#12 of 12 (0th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1996219 mpg18 mpg#10 of 10 (0th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumSmall 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 960 Wagon placed highest in 1996 at #10 of 10, and lowest in 1994 at #17 of 17. It spent 0 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 6 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19962.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)162218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19962.9L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
19952.9L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)152318638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19942.9L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)152318638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19932.9L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)152318638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19922.9L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1992 → 199319 → 18 mpg-1 mpg639 gal
1995 → 199618 → 19 mpg+1 mpg605 gal

What 960 Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1996 Volvo 960 Wagon burns 605 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,816$1,917$101
$3.50/gal$2,118$2,236$118
$4.00/gal$2,421$2,556$135

EPA’s own estimate for the 1996 model year is $4,100 to $4,300 a year in fuel, or $10,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize-Large Station Wagons

Across the 53 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize-Large Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 19 mpg the Volvo 960 Wagon is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $202 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Volvo nameplates

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