The Pontiac Grand Prix does 20.1 mpg combined (17.1 city, 25.4 highway), which works out to about $1,910 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.3L 4-cyl does 21.5 mpg while 5L 8-cyl Hybrid does 17.5 — a difference of $408 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Pontiac Grand Prix engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Pontiac Grand Prix ranges from 21.5 down to 17.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $408 a year across 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 19 / 26.5 | 1990–1991 | $1,786 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 18 / 25 | 1984–1984 | $1,829 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 18 / 26.5 | 1988–1989 | $1,829 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 17.4 / 26.1 | 1990–2003 | $1,864 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 17.6 / 25.6 | 1984–2008 | $1,892 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 16 / 24 | 1986–1986 | $2,021 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 / 25 | 2005–2008 | $2,021 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 15 / 22.5 | 1986–1987 | $2,133 | |
| 5L 8-cyl Hybrid | 15 / 21.5 | 1984–1985 | $2,194 |
What that actually costs
The Pontiac Grand Prix burns a gallon every 20.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 597 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.159 |
| Fuel per year | $1,910 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,550 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$20 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,194 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Pontiac Grand Prix gives up 8.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.4 out there against 17.1 in town, a 49% drop worth $734 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 | 17.1 mpg | $2,246 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.4 mpg | $1,512 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.3 mpg (49%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Grand Prix changed over the years
The Grand Prix peaked in 2004 at 21 mpg (18 city, 28 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1987 at 18.5 — 2.5 mpg apart, or $247 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2008 car does 20. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2007 | 17 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2006 | 17 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2005 | 17 / 26 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1997 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1996 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1994 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1992 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1991 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1990 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1989 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1988 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1987 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1986 | 15.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1985 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 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 36 EPA ratings of the Pontiac Grand Prix — 9 engines across 1984–2008. 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 $3,194. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Pontiac Grand Prix get?
20.1 mpg combined on average — 17.1 in the city and 25.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2008.
How much does a Pontiac Grand Prix cost in fuel per year?
About $1,910 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,550 over five years, or 0.159 dollars a mile.
Which Grand Prix engine is the most economical?
The 2.3L 4-cyl at 21.5 mpg, against 17.5 for the 5L 8-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $408 a year.
Is the Grand Prix good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Grand Prix 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 Prix is $3,194 against the $1,910 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 22 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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