The Cadillac 60 Special does 16.3 mpg combined (14.3 city, 21 highway), which works out to about $2,356 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4.9L 8-cyl does 17 mpg while 4.5L 8-cyl does 16 — a difference of $141 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Cadillac 60 Special engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Cadillac 60 Special ranges from 17 down to 16 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $141 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9L 8-cyl | 15 / 23 | 1993–1993 | $2,259 | |
| 4.5L 8-cyl | 14 / 20 | 1991–1992 | $2,400 |
What that actually costs
The Cadillac 60 Special burns a gallon every 16.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 736 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.196 |
| Fuel per year | $2,356 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,780 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$29 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,717 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Cadillac 60 Special gives up 6.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21 out there against 14.3 in town, a 47% drop worth $856 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 | 14.3 mpg | $2,685 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21 mpg | $1,829 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.7 mpg (47%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 60 Special changed over the years
The 60 Special peaked in 1993 at 17 mpg (15 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1992 at 16 — 1 mpg apart, or $141 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1993 car does 17.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1992 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 1991 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Cadillac 60 Special — 2 engines across 1991–1993. 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 $4,717. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Cadillac 60 Special get?
16.3 mpg combined on average — 14.3 in the city and 21 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1991–1993.
How much does a Cadillac 60 Special cost in fuel per year?
About $2,356 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,780 over five years, or 0.196 dollars a mile.
Which 60 Special engine is the most economical?
The 4.9L 8-cyl at 17 mpg, against 16 for the 4.5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $141 a year.
Is the 60 Special good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world 60 Special figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Cadillac 60 Special is $4,717 against the $2,356 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 17 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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