The Pontiac Firebird does 19.2 mpg combined (16.2 city, 24.6 highway), which works out to about $2,000 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 23.7 mpg while 5L 8-cyl Hybrid does 17.7 — a difference of $549 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Pontiac Firebird engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Pontiac Firebird ranges from 23.7 down to 17.7 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $549 a year across 8 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 | 20.7 / 29.7 | 1984–1986 | $1,620 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 17 / 27.4 | 1996–2002 | $1,855 | |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 17 / 26 | 1993–1995 | $1,920 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 16.7 / 24.7 | 1984–1989 | $1,949 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 16 / 25 | 1990–1992 | $2,021 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 15.6 / 23.5 | 1989–2002 | $2,087 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15 / 22.3 | 1985–1988 | $2,157 | |
| 5L 8-cyl Hybrid | 14.9 / 22.3 | 1984–1992 | $2,169 |
What that actually costs
The Pontiac Firebird burns a gallon every 19.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 625 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.167 |
| Fuel per year | $2,000 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,000 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$70 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,535 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Pontiac Firebird gives up 8.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.6 out there against 16.2 in town, a 52% drop worth $809 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 | 16.2 mpg | $2,370 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.6 mpg | $1,561 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.4 mpg (52%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Firebird changed over the years
The Firebird peaked in 1986 at 20.7 mpg (17.7 city, 25.7 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 18 — 2.7 mpg apart, or $278 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2002 car does 20.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 17 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2000 | 16.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 27 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1998 | 16.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1997 | 16 / 24.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1996 | 16 / 24.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1995 | 16 / 24.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1994 | 16 / 24.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1993 | 16 / 24 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1992 | 15.3 / 23.7 | 3 | $2,098 | |
| 1991 | 15.3 / 23 | 3 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 15.3 / 23 | 3 | $2,133 | |
| 1989 | 15.7 / 24 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 1988 | 16 / 24.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1987 | 15.7 / 23.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 1986 | 17.7 / 25.7 | 3 | $1,855 | |
| 1985 | 16.5 / 23.8 | 4 | $1,990 | |
| 1984 | 17 / 24.7 | 3 | $1,949 |
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 47 EPA ratings of the Pontiac Firebird — 8 engines across 1984–2002. 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 $3,535. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Pontiac Firebird get?
19.2 mpg combined on average — 16.2 in the city and 24.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2002.
How much does a Pontiac Firebird cost in fuel per year?
About $2,000 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,000 over five years, or 0.167 dollars a mile.
Which Firebird engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 23.7 mpg, against 17.7 for the 5L 8-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $549 a year.
Is the Firebird 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 Firebird 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 Firebird is $3,535 against the $2,000 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 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.