The Pontiac Grand Am does 22.7 mpg combined (19.3 city, 28.6 highway), which works out to about $1,692 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.2L 4-cyl does 25.5 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $414 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Pontiac Grand Am engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Pontiac Grand Am ranges from 25.5 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $414 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 22 / 31 | 2002–2005 | $1,506 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 20.9 / 31 | 1988–1995 | $1,574 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 20 / 30.3 | 1985–1987 | $1,600 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 19.2 / 28.8 | 1996–2001 | $1,655 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 18 / 26.6 | 1994–1998 | $1,829 | |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 18 / 27.4 | 1999–2005 | $1,829 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17.5 / 26 | 1992–1993 | $1,873 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17.3 / 24.7 | 1985–1987 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Pontiac Grand Am burns a gallon every 22.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 529 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.141 |
| Fuel per year | $1,692 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,460 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$198 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,763 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Pontiac Grand Am gives up 9.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.6 out there against 19.3 in town, a 48% drop worth $647 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 | 19.3 mpg | $1,990 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.6 mpg | $1,343 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.3 mpg (48%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Grand Am changed over the years
The Grand Am peaked in 1988 at 26 mpg (22 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1999 at 21.5 — 4.5 mpg apart, or $309 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2005 car does 23. 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 | 20 / 29 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2004 | 20.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2003 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2002 | 20 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2001 | 19 / 29 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1999 | 18.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1998 | 19 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1997 | 18.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1996 | 18.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1995 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1994 | 19.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1993 | 19.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1992 | 19.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1991 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1990 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1989 | 21 / 32 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1988 | 22 / 33 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1987 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1986 | 18.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1985 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 38 EPA ratings of the Pontiac Grand Am — 8 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 $2,763. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Pontiac Grand Am get?
22.7 mpg combined on average — 19.3 in the city and 28.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1985–2005.
How much does a Pontiac Grand Am cost in fuel per year?
About $1,692 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,460 over five years, or 0.141 dollars a mile.
Which Grand Am engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 25.5 mpg, against 20 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $414 a year.
Is the Grand Am good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Grand Am 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 Grand Am is $2,763 against the $1,692 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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