The Buick Somerset does 22 mpg combined (18.8 city, 27.5 highway), which works out to about $1,745 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 24 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $320 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Buick Somerset engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick Somerset ranges from 24 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $320 a year across 2 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 / 30.3 | 1985–1987 | $1,600 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17.3 / 24.7 | 1985–1987 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Somerset burns a gallon every 22 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 545 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.145 |
| Fuel per year | $1,745 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,725 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$251 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,850 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Somerset gives up 8.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.5 out there against 18.8 in town, a 46% drop worth $647 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 | 18.8 mpg | $2,043 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.5 mpg | $1,396 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.7 mpg (46%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Somerset changed over the years
The Somerset peaked in 1985 at 22.5 mpg (19.5 city, 27.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1987 at 21.5 — 1 mpg apart, or $79 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1987 car does 21.5.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1986 | 19 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1985 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 |
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Buick Somerset — 2 engines across 1985–1987. 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 $2,850. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Somerset get?
22 mpg combined on average — 18.8 in the city and 27.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1985–1987.
How much does a Buick Somerset cost in fuel per year?
About $1,745 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,725 over five years, or 0.145 dollars a mile.
Which Somerset engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 24 mpg, against 20 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $320 a year.
Is the Somerset 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 Somerset 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 Somerset is $2,850 against the $1,745 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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