Saturn averages 24.3 mpg combined across 14 petrol and diesel models (1991–2010). The best on record does 29 mpg, the thirstiest 18 — a yearly fuel gap of about $809.
What that actually costs
What a Saturn costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 24.3 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,580 |
| Most frugal on record | 29 mpg — $1,324 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 18 mpg — $2,133 a year |
Saturn models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn SL | 29 / 27 | $1,357 | |
| Saturn SC | 29 / 25 | $1,376 | |
| Saturn SW | 28 / 27 | $1,386 | |
| Saturn Astra | 27 / 27 | $1,422 | |
| Saturn Ion | 26 / 25 | $1,488 | |
| Saturn Aura | 29 / 20 | $1,580 | |
| Saturn L200 | 24 / 24 | $1,600 | |
| Saturn SKY | 23 / 22 | $1,722 | |
| Saturn LW | 25 / 20 | $1,730 | |
| Saturn Vue | 28 / 19 | $1,738 | |
| Saturn LS | 24 / 20 | $1,745 | |
| Saturn L300 | 25 / 20 | $1,786 | |
| Saturn Outlook | 19 / 19 | $2,021 | |
| Saturn Relay | 19 / 18 | $2,053 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
Saturn rests on 103 EPA ratings covering 14 models from 1991 to 2010. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Saturn gas mileage?
24.3 mpg combined across 14 models and 103 EPA ratings, from 1991 to 2010 — 19 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Saturn does today.
Which Saturn model is the most economical?
The Saturn SL at 28.3 mpg, about $1,357 a year in fuel, against the Relay at 18.7 mpg and $2,053 — a gap of $696 a year between the two ends of the same badge.
How much does a Saturn cost to run?
About $1,580 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $7,900, before a single service.
Why does the Saturn average look low?
Because it spans 19 model years, back to 1991. Cars built before the mid-2000s were markedly thirstier, and Saturn has 103 ratings from that whole stretch — the recent ones are pulled down by the old.
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