The Buick Reatta does 19.5 mpg combined (16.5 city, 25.5 highway), which works out to about $1,969 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Buick Reatta engine, compared
The Buick Reatta was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 16.5 / 25.5 | 1988–1991 | $1,969 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Reatta burns a gallon every 19.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 615 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.164 |
| Fuel per year | $1,969 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,845 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$39 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,200 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Reatta gives up 9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.5 out there against 16.5 in town, a 55% drop worth $821 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 | 16.5 mpg | $2,327 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.5 mpg | $1,506 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9 mpg (55%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Reatta changed over the years
The Reatta peaked in 1989 at 20 mpg (17 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 19 — 1 mpg apart, or $101 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1991 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16 / 25 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1990 | 16 / 25 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1989 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1988 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the Buick Reatta — 1 engine across 1988–1991. 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 $3,200. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Reatta get?
19.5 mpg combined on average — 16.5 in the city and 25.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1988–1991.
How much does a Buick Reatta cost in fuel per year?
About $1,969 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,845 over five years, or 0.164 dollars a mile.
Which Reatta engine is the most economical?
The 3.8L 6-cyl at 19.5 mpg.
Is the Reatta good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Reatta 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 Reatta is $3,200 against the $1,969 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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