The Ford LTD does 18.6 mpg combined (17 city, 22 highway), which works out to about $2,065 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.3L 4-cyl does 20 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 17 — a difference of $339 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Ford LTD engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Ford LTD ranges from 20 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $339 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 18.3 / 22.7 | 1984–1986 | $1,920 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 17 / 21.3 | 1984–1986 | $2,098 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15 / 22 | 1984–1985 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Ford LTD burns a gallon every 18.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 645 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.172 |
| Fuel per year | $2,065 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,325 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$571 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,350 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford LTD gives up 5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22 out there against 17 in town, a 29% drop worth $514 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 | 17 mpg | $2,259 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22 mpg | $1,745 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5 mpg (29%) | Typical for its type |
How the LTD changed over the years
The LTD peaked in 1986 at 19 mpg (17.5 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1985 at 18.3 — 0.7 mpg apart, or $77 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1986 car does 19.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1985 | 17 / 21.7 | 3 | $2,098 | |
| 1984 | 16.7 / 22.3 | 3 | $2,053 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 8 EPA ratings of the Ford LTD — 3 engines across 1984–1986. 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 $3,350. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford LTD get?
18.6 mpg combined on average — 17 in the city and 22 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1986.
How much does a Ford LTD cost in fuel per year?
About $2,065 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,325 over five years, or 0.172 dollars a mile.
Which LTD engine is the most economical?
The 2.3L 4-cyl at 20 mpg, against 17 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $339 a year.
Is the LTD 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 LTD figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Ford LTD is $3,350 against the $2,065 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 20 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.