The Saturn LS does 22 mpg combined (19.5 city, 27 highway), which works out to about $1,745 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.2L 4-cyl does 24 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $320 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Saturn LS engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Saturn LS ranges from 24 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $320 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 21 / 30 | 2000–2000 | $1,600 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18 / 24 | 2000–2000 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Saturn LS burns a gallon every 22 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 545 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.145 |
| Fuel per year | $1,745 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,725 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$251 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,850 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Saturn LS gives up 7.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27 out there against 19.5 in town, a 38% drop worth $547 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 | 19.5 mpg | $1,969 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27 mpg | $1,422 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.5 mpg (38%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the LS changed over the years
Combined figure across the 1 model year the LS was rated in, all of them at 22 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 |
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 LS — 2 engines across 2000–2000. 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 $2,850. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Saturn LS get?
22 mpg combined on average — 19.5 in the city and 27 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2000.
How much does a Saturn LS cost in fuel per year?
About $1,745 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,725 over five years, or 0.145 dollars a mile.
Which LS engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 24 mpg, against 20 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $320 a year.
Is the LS 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 LS 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 LS is $2,850 against the $1,745 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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