The Saturn Astra does 27 mpg combined (24 city, 30 highway), which works out to about $1,422 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Saturn Astra engine, compared
The Saturn Astra was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 / 30 | 2008–2009 | $1,422 |
What that actually costs
The Saturn Astra burns a gallon every 27 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 444 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.119 |
| Fuel per year | $1,422 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,110 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$72 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,300 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Saturn Astra gives up 6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30 out there against 24 in town, a 25% drop worth $320 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 | 24 mpg | $1,600 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 30 mpg | $1,280 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6 mpg (25%) | Typical for its type |
How the Astra changed over the years
Combined figure across the 2 model years the Astra was rated in, all of them at 27 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2008 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,422 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Saturn Astra — 1 engine across 2008–2009. 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 $2,300. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Saturn Astra get?
27 mpg combined on average — 24 in the city and 30 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2008–2009.
How much does a Saturn Astra cost in fuel per year?
About $1,422 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,110 over five years, or 0.119 dollars a mile.
Which Astra engine is the most economical?
The 1.8L 4-cyl at 27 mpg.
Is the Astra good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Astra figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Saturn Astra is $2,300 against the $1,422 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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