The Buick Century does 21.9 mpg combined (18.9 city, 27.4 highway), which works out to about $1,753 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4.3L 6-cyl does 26 mpg while 3.3L 6-cyl does 20.5 — a difference of $396 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Buick Century engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick Century ranges from 26 down to 20.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $396 a year across 6 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 22 / 31.5 | 1984–1985 | $1,477 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 21.3 / 28.3 | 1993–1996 | $1,620 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 19.9 / 28.6 | 1984–1992 | $1,662 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 18 / 26 | 1986–1989 | $1,846 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 17.7 / 26.3 | 1994–2005 | $1,846 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17.5 / 26.5 | 1990–1993 | $1,873 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Century burns a gallon every 21.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 548 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.146 |
| Fuel per year | $1,753 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,765 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$177 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,882 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Century gives up 8.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.4 out there against 18.9 in town, a 45% drop worth $631 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.9 mpg | $2,032 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.4 mpg | $1,401 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.5 mpg (45%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Century changed over the years
The Century peaked in 1985 at 25.5 mpg (22 city, 30.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1995 at 20 — 5.5 mpg apart, or $414 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2005 car does 21. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2004 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1997 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1996 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1994 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1993 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1992 | 18 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1991 | 18 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1990 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1989 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1988 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1987 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1986 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1985 | 22 / 30.5 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 1984 | 20.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 34 EPA ratings of the Buick Century — 6 engines across 1984–2005. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,882. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Century get?
21.9 mpg combined on average — 18.9 in the city and 27.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2005.
How much does a Buick Century cost in fuel per year?
About $1,753 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,765 over five years, or 0.146 dollars a mile.
Which Century engine is the most economical?
The 4.3L 6-cyl at 26 mpg, against 20.5 for the 3.3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $396 a year.
Is the Century good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Century figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Buick Century is $2,882 against the $1,753 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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