The Saab 9000 does 20.6 mpg combined (17.8 city, 25.3 highway), which works out to about $1,864 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 21.2 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 19 — a difference of $210 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Saab 9000 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Saab 9000 ranges from 21.2 down to 19 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $210 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 18.6 / 26 | 1986–1990 | $1,811 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 17.9 / 25.4 | 1991–1998 | $1,846 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 16 / 24 | 1995–1997 | $2,021 |
What that actually costs
The Saab 9000 burns a gallon every 20.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 583 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.155 |
| Fuel per year | $1,864 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,320 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$370 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,203 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Saab 9000 gives up 7.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.3 out there against 17.8 in town, a 42% drop worth $639 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 | 17.8 mpg | $2,157 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.3 mpg | $1,518 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.5 mpg (42%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 9000 changed over the years
The 9000 peaked in 1989 at 22 mpg (19 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1997 at 20 — 2 mpg apart, or $175 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1998 car does 21. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1997 | 17 / 25 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1996 | 17 / 25 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 25 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1994 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1992 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1991 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1990 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1989 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1988 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1987 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1986 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 |
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 16 EPA ratings of the Saab 9000 — 3 engines across 1986–1998. 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 $3,203. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Saab 9000 get?
20.6 mpg combined on average — 17.8 in the city and 25.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1986–1998.
How much does a Saab 9000 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,864 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,320 over five years, or 0.155 dollars a mile.
Which 9000 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 21.2 mpg, against 19 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $210 a year.
Is the 9000 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 9000 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Saab 9000 is $3,203 against the $1,864 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 22 and 19 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.