The Buick Skylark does 21.8 mpg combined (18.7 city, 27.3 highway), which works out to about $1,761 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 23.8 mpg while 3.3L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $307 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Buick Skylark engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick Skylark ranges from 23.8 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $307 a year across 7 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 | 20.3 / 29.8 | 1984–1987 | $1,613 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 20 / 29.1 | 1988–1995 | $1,641 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 / 29.3 | 1996–1998 | $1,670 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 17.8 / 26.4 | 1994–1998 | $1,846 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 17.5 / 24 | 1984–1985 | $1,920 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 24.7 | 1986–1988 | $1,920 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17.6 / 25.2 | 1989–1993 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Skylark burns a gallon every 21.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 550 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.147 |
| Fuel per year | $1,761 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,805 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$267 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,860 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Skylark gives up 8.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.3 out there against 18.7 in town, a 46% drop worth $646 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 | 18.7 mpg | $2,053 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.3 mpg | $1,407 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.6 mpg (46%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Skylark changed over the years
The Skylark peaked in 1988 at 22.5 mpg (19 city, 27.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1995 at 21 — 1.5 mpg apart, or $122 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1998 car does 22. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 18.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1997 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1996 | 18.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1995 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1994 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1993 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1992 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1991 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1990 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1989 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1988 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1987 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1986 | 19 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1985 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1984 | 18.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,786 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 30 EPA ratings of the Buick Skylark — 7 engines across 1984–1998. 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 $2,860. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Skylark get?
21.8 mpg combined on average — 18.7 in the city and 27.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1998.
How much does a Buick Skylark cost in fuel per year?
About $1,761 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,805 over five years, or 0.147 dollars a mile.
Which Skylark engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 23.8 mpg, against 20 for the 3.3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $307 a year.
Is the Skylark good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Skylark 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 Skylark is $2,860 against the $1,761 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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