The Mercedes-Benz 260 does 18.3 mpg combined (17 city, 20.8 highway), which works out to about $2,098 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz 260 engine, compared
The Mercedes-Benz 260 was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6L 6-cyl | 17 / 20.8 | 1987–1991 | $2,098 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz 260 burns a gallon every 18.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 656 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.175 |
| Fuel per year | $2,098 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,490 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$168 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,013 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz 260 gives up 3.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.8 out there against 17 in town, a 22% drop worth $413 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 | 20.8 mpg | $1,846 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.8 mpg (22%) | Typical for its type |
How the 260 changed over the years
The 260 peaked in 1989 at 19 mpg (18 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 16 — 3 mpg apart, or $379 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1991 car does 16. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15 / 17 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 1989 | 18 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1988 | 18 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1987 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz 260 — 1 engine across 1987–1991. 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 $4,013. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz 260 get?
18.3 mpg combined on average — 17 in the city and 20.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1987–1991.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz 260 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,098 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,490 over five years, or 0.175 dollars a mile.
Which 260 engine is the most economical?
The 2.6L 6-cyl at 18.3 mpg.
Is the 260 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 260 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz 260 is $4,013 against the $2,098 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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