The Buick LaCrosse does 23.3 mpg combined (19.7 city, 29.8 highway), which works out to about $1,648 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl does 29 mpg while 5.3L 8-cyl does 19 — a difference of $697 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Buick LaCrosse engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick LaCrosse ranges from 29 down to 19 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $697 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 / 35 | 2018–2018 | $1,324 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 25 / 35 | 2019–2019 | $1,324 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 22.7 / 33.6 | 2010–2016 | $1,438 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 18.4 / 28.3 | 2010–2019 | $1,753 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 17.2 / 27.6 | 2005–2009 | $1,829 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 / 24 | 2008–2009 | $2,021 |
What that actually costs
The Buick LaCrosse burns a gallon every 23.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 515 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.137 |
| Fuel per year | $1,648 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,240 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$282 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,740 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick LaCrosse gives up 10.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 29.8 out there against 19.7 in town, a 51% drop worth $660 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 | 19.7 mpg | $1,949 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29.8 mpg | $1,289 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +10.1 mpg (51%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the LaCrosse changed over the years
The LaCrosse peaked in 2019 at 26.5 mpg (22.5 city, 32.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 20 — 6.5 mpg apart, or $471 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2019 car does 26.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 22.5 / 32.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2018 | 23 / 32.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 31 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2016 | 21 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2015 | 21 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2014 | 21 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2012 | 20.5 / 31 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2011 | 18 / 28 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2010 | 18 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2009 | 16.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2008 | 16.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2007 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2006 | 17 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2005 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 26 EPA ratings of the Buick LaCrosse — 6 engines across 2005–2019. 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 $2,740. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick LaCrosse get?
23.3 mpg combined on average — 19.7 in the city and 29.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2005–2019.
How much does a Buick LaCrosse cost in fuel per year?
About $1,648 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,240 over five years, or 0.137 dollars a mile.
Which LaCrosse engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 29 mpg, against 19 for the 5.3L 8-cyl — a difference of about $697 a year.
Is the LaCrosse 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 LaCrosse 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 LaCrosse is $2,740 against the $1,648 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 29 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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