The Pontiac Bonneville does 19.5 mpg combined (16.6 city, 25 highway), which works out to about $1,969 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 5.7L 8-cyl does 21 mpg while 5L 8-cyl Hybrid does 17 — a difference of $430 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Pontiac Bonneville engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Pontiac Bonneville ranges from 21 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $430 a year across 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 18 / 25 | 1984–1984 | $1,829 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 16.9 / 25.8 | 1984–2005 | $1,920 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 16 / 24 | 1986–1986 | $2,021 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15 / 23 | 1986–1986 | $2,133 | |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 15 / 22 | 2004–2005 | $2,133 | |
| 5L 8-cyl Hybrid | 15 / 20.5 | 1984–1985 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Pontiac Bonneville burns a gallon every 19.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 615 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.164 |
| Fuel per year | $1,969 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,845 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$39 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,221 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Pontiac Bonneville gives up 8.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25 out there against 16.6 in town, a 51% drop worth $777 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 | 16.6 mpg | $2,313 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25 mpg | $1,536 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.4 mpg (51%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Bonneville changed over the years
The Bonneville peaked in 2003 at 21 mpg (17 city, 27 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1985 at 18 — 3 mpg apart, or $304 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2005 car does 19.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 16.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2004 | 16.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2003 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1997 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1996 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1994 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1992 | 16 / 26 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1991 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1990 | 16 / 25 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1989 | 16 / 26 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1988 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1987 | 16 / 25 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1986 | 15.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1985 | 16 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1984 | 16.7 / 22.7 | 3 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 28 EPA ratings of the Pontiac Bonneville — 6 engines across 1984–2005. 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 $3,221. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Pontiac Bonneville get?
19.5 mpg combined on average — 16.6 in the city and 25 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2005.
How much does a Pontiac Bonneville cost in fuel per year?
About $1,969 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,845 over five years, or 0.164 dollars a mile.
Which Bonneville engine is the most economical?
The 5.7L 8-cyl at 21 mpg, against 17 for the 5L 8-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $430 a year.
Is the Bonneville 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 Bonneville figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Pontiac Bonneville is $3,221 against the $1,969 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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