The GMC Safari does 18 mpg combined (15.8 city, 21.5 highway), which works out to about $2,133 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 21.2 mpg while 4.3L 6-cyl does 17.1 — a difference of $435 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every GMC Safari engine, compared
Gas mileage on the GMC Safari ranges from 21.2 down to 17.1 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $435 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 | 18.8 / 25 | 1985–1990 | $1,811 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 15 / 20.5 | 1985–2005 | $2,246 |
What that actually costs
The GMC Safari burns a gallon every 18 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 667 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.178 |
| Fuel per year | $2,133 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,665 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$203 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,546 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The GMC Safari gives up 5.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.5 out there against 15.8 in town, a 36% drop worth $644 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 | 15.8 mpg | $2,430 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.5 mpg | $1,786 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.7 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Safari changed over the years
The Safari peaked in 1985 at 20.5 mpg (17.5 city, 24.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 16 — 4.5 mpg apart, or $527 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2005 car does 17. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2004 | 14 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1999 | 14 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 1998 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 1997 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1996 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1995 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1994 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1993 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1992 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1991 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1990 | 16.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1989 | 16.5 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1988 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1987 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1986 | 18 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1985 | 17.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 |
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 27 EPA ratings of the GMC Safari — 2 engines across 1985–2005. 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 $3,546. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the GMC Safari get?
18 mpg combined on average — 15.8 in the city and 21.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1985–2005.
How much does a GMC Safari cost in fuel per year?
About $2,133 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,665 over five years, or 0.178 dollars a mile.
Which Safari engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 21.2 mpg, against 17.1 for the 4.3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $435 a year.
Is the Safari good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Safari figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the GMC Safari is $3,546 against the $2,133 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 22 and 16 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.