The GMC Vandura does 17.2 mpg combined (15.5 city, 20.1 highway), which works out to about $2,233 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 6.2L 8-cyl does 18.5 mpg while 5L 8-cyl Hybrid does 15.5 — a difference of $401 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every GMC Vandura engine, compared
Gas mileage on the GMC Vandura ranges from 18.5 down to 15.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $401 a year across 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 16.5 / 21.6 | 1984–1993 | $2,076 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 15 / 19.5 | 1985–1995 | $2,327 | |
| 6.5L 8-cyl | 15 / 20 | 1994–1995 | $2,327 | |
| 4.1L 6-cyl | 15 / 17 | 1984–1984 | $2,400 | |
| 5L 8-cyl Hybrid | 14.5 / 17.5 | 1984–1985 | $2,477 |
What that actually costs
The GMC Vandura burns a gallon every 17.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 698 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.186 |
| Fuel per year | $2,233 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,165 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$152 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,054 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The GMC Vandura gives up 4.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.1 out there against 15.5 in town, a 30% drop worth $567 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 | 15.5 mpg | $2,477 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.1 mpg | $1,910 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.6 mpg (30%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Vandura changed over the years
The Vandura peaked in 1989 at 18 mpg (15.5 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 16 — 2 mpg apart, or $267 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1995 car does 16.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 15 / 20 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1994 | 15 / 20 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 1993 | 15 / 20 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 1992 | 15 / 21 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 1991 | 15 / 20 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 1990 | 15.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1989 | 15.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1988 | 16.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 1987 | 16.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1986 | 16 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1985 | 15.3 / 19.7 | 3 | $2,259 | |
| 1984 | 16 / 18.7 | 3 | $2,220 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 26 EPA ratings of the GMC Vandura — 5 engines across 1984–1995. 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 $4,054. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the GMC Vandura get?
17.2 mpg combined on average — 15.5 in the city and 20.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1995.
How much does a GMC Vandura cost in fuel per year?
About $2,233 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,165 over five years, or 0.186 dollars a mile.
Which Vandura engine is the most economical?
The 6.2L 8-cyl at 18.5 mpg, against 15.5 for the 5L 8-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $401 a year.
Is the Vandura 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 Vandura 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 Vandura is $4,054 against the $2,233 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 20 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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