The Pontiac Trans Sport does 18.3 mpg combined (16.3 city, 21.8 highway), which works out to about $2,098 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 18.8 mpg while 3.1L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $90 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Pontiac Trans Sport engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Pontiac Trans Sport ranges from 18.8 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $90 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 | 16.3 / 23 | 1996–1999 | $2,043 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 16.3 / 21 | 1990–1995 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Pontiac Trans Sport burns a gallon every 18.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 656 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.175 |
| Fuel per year | $2,098 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,490 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$168 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,405 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Pontiac Trans Sport gives up 5.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.8 out there against 16.3 in town, a 34% drop worth $595 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 | 16.3 mpg | $2,356 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.8 mpg | $1,761 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.5 mpg (34%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Trans Sport changed over the years
The Trans Sport peaked in 1998 at 19 mpg (16 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1999 at 18 — 1 mpg apart, or $112 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1999 car does 18. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1998 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1997 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1996 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1992 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1991 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 10 EPA ratings of the Pontiac Trans Sport — 2 engines across 1990–1999. 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 $3,405. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Pontiac Trans Sport get?
18.3 mpg combined on average — 16.3 in the city and 21.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1990–1999.
How much does a Pontiac Trans Sport cost in fuel per year?
About $2,098 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,490 over five years, or 0.175 dollars a mile.
Which Trans Sport engine is the most economical?
The 3.4L 6-cyl at 18.8 mpg, against 18 for the 3.1L 6-cyl — a difference of about $90 a year.
Is the Trans Sport 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 Trans Sport 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 Trans Sport is $3,405 against the $2,098 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 19 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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