The Saturn SL does 28.3 mpg combined (24.3 city, 35.3 highway), which works out to about $1,357 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 SL engine, compared
The Saturn SL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl | 24.3 / 35.3 | 1991–2002 | $1,357 |
What that actually costs
The Saturn SL burns a gallon every 28.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 424 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.113 |
| Fuel per year | $1,357 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,785 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$137 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,188 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Saturn SL gives up 11 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 35.3 out there against 24.3 in town, a 45% drop worth $492 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 | 24.3 mpg | $1,580 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 35.3 mpg | $1,088 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +11 mpg (45%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the SL changed over the years
The SL peaked in 2002 at 29 mpg (25 city, 36 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 27 — 2 mpg apart, or $98 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2002 car does 29. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2001 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2000 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 1999 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 1998 | 24 / 36 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1997 | 24 / 36 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1996 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 1995 | 24 / 36 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1994 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1993 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1992 | 24 / 35 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1991 | 23 / 34 | 1 | $1,422 |
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 12 EPA ratings of the Saturn SL — 1 engine across 1991–2002. 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 $2,188. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Saturn SL get?
28.3 mpg combined on average — 24.3 in the city and 35.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1991–2002.
How much does a Saturn SL cost in fuel per year?
About $1,357 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,785 over five years, or 0.113 dollars a mile.
Which SL engine is the most economical?
The 1.9L 4-cyl at 28.3 mpg.
Is the SL 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 SL 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 SL is $2,188 against the $1,357 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.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.