The Buick Electra does 18.7 mpg combined (16 city, 23.6 highway), which works out to about $2,053 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 5.7L 8-cyl does 21 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 17.5 — a difference of $365 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Buick Electra engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick Electra ranges from 21 down to 17.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $365 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 18 / 26 | 1984–1985 | $1,829 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 16 / 25 | 1990–1990 | $2,021 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15 / 22 | 1986–1989 | $2,194 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Electra burns a gallon every 18.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 642 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.171 |
| Fuel per year | $2,053 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,265 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$332 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,550 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Electra gives up 7.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.6 out there against 16 in town, a 48% drop worth $773 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 | 16 mpg | $2,400 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.6 mpg | $1,627 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.6 mpg (48%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Electra changed over the years
The Electra peaked in 1985 at 21 mpg (18 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1987 at 17 — 4 mpg apart, or $430 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1990 car does 19. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16 / 25 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1989 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1988 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1987 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1986 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1985 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1984 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 7 EPA ratings of the Buick Electra — 3 engines across 1984–1990. 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 $3,550. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Electra get?
18.7 mpg combined on average — 16 in the city and 23.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1990.
How much does a Buick Electra cost in fuel per year?
About $2,053 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,265 over five years, or 0.171 dollars a mile.
Which Electra engine is the most economical?
The 5.7L 8-cyl at 21 mpg, against 17.5 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $365 a year.
Is the Electra good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Electra 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 Electra is $3,550 against the $2,053 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.