The Buick Regal does 22.2 mpg combined (18.9 city, 28 highway), which works out to about $1,730 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.4L 4-cyl does 28.2 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 18.5 — a difference of $714 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Buick Regal engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick Regal ranges from 28.2 down to 18.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $714 a year across 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 24.2 / 35.2 | 2012–2016 | $1,362 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.4 / 31.2 | 2011–2020 | $1,524 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 20 / 29 | 1984–1985 | $1,670 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 19 / 27 | 2018–2020 | $1,745 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 18 / 26.5 | 1984–1985 | $1,829 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 18 / 26.5 | 1988–1989 | $1,829 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 17.3 / 26 | 1990–1997 | $1,892 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 17 / 26.1 | 1986–2004 | $1,901 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15.5 / 22 | 1986–1987 | $2,076 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Regal burns a gallon every 22.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 541 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.144 |
| Fuel per year | $1,730 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,650 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$200 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,979 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Regal gives up 9.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28 out there against 18.9 in town, a 48% drop worth $661 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 | 28 mpg | $1,371 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.1 mpg (48%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Regal changed over the years
The Regal peaked in 2013 at 29 mpg (25 city, 36 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1987 at 18.5 — 10.5 mpg apart, or $752 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2020 car does 24. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 20.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2019 | 20.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2018 | 20.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2016 | 24 / 35 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2015 | 24 / 35 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2014 | 24 / 35 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2013 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2012 | 24 / 35 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2011 | 20 / 31 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2004 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2003 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1997 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1996 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1994 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1992 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1991 | 17 / 28 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1990 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1989 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1988 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1987 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1986 | 16 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1985 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 38 EPA ratings of the Buick Regal — 9 engines across 1984–2020. 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 $2,979. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Regal get?
22.2 mpg combined on average — 18.9 in the city and 28 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2020.
How much does a Buick Regal cost in fuel per year?
About $1,730 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,650 over five years, or 0.144 dollars a mile.
Which Regal engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 28.2 mpg, against 18.5 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $714 a year.
Is the Regal 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 Regal 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 Regal is $2,979 against the $1,730 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 29 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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