The Pontiac Montana does 19.4 mpg combined (16.7 city, 23.7 highway), which works out to about $1,979 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.4L 6-cyl does 19.8 mpg while 3.5L 6-cyl does 18.5 — a difference of $137 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Pontiac Montana engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Pontiac Montana ranges from 19.8 down to 18.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $137 a year across 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2000–2004 | $1,939 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 16 / 23 | 2005–2006 | $2,076 |
What that actually costs
The Pontiac Montana burns a gallon every 19.4 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 619 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.165 |
| Fuel per year | $1,979 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,895 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$49 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,207 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Pontiac Montana gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.7 out there against 16.7 in town, a 42% drop worth $679 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 | 16.7 mpg | $2,299 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.7 mpg | $1,620 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (42%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Montana changed over the years
The Montana peaked in 2004 at 20 mpg (17 city, 24 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 18 — 2 mpg apart, or $213 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2006 car does 19. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2005 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2004 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2003 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 7 EPA ratings of the Pontiac Montana — 2 engines across 2000–2006. 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 $3,207. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Pontiac Montana get?
19.4 mpg combined on average — 16.7 in the city and 23.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2006.
How much does a Pontiac Montana cost in fuel per year?
About $1,979 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,895 over five years, or 0.165 dollars a mile.
Which Montana engine is the most economical?
The 3.4L 6-cyl at 19.8 mpg, against 18.5 for the 3.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $137 a year.
Is the Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana is $3,207 against the $1,979 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 20 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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