1984 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1984 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 45 EPA-rated 1984 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Ford Escort Diesel leads at about $1,423 a year (39 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Camargue is the most expensive to run at $5,812 (8 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,938 a year to fuel.

Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles a year at $3.10/gal regular, $3.95/gal premium and 18¢/kWh. Each model is shown in its most efficient configuration.

Top 15

Annual fuel cost (lower is better)
  1. 1Ford Escort Diesel39 MPG $1,423
  2. 2Mercury Lynx Diesel39 MPG $1,423
  3. 3Ford Escort32 MPG $1,453
  4. 4Mercury Lynx32 MPG $1,453
  5. 5Renault Alliance/Encore32 MPG $1,453
  6. 6Toyota Corolla Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  7. 7Dodge Omni30 MPG $1,550
  8. 8Plymouth Horizon30 MPG $1,550
  9. 9Toyota Corolla29 MPG $1,603
  10. 10Ford Tempo Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  11. 11Mercury Topaz Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  12. 12Mazda 626 Diesel33 MPG $1,682
  13. 13Volkswagen Quantum Diesel33 MPG $1,682
  14. 14Toyota Camry27 MPG $1,722
  15. 15Nissan Stanza27 MPG $1,722

All 45 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Ford Escort Diesel Diesel 39 MPG — $1,423
2Mercury Lynx Diesel Diesel 39 MPG — $1,423
3Ford Escort Gas 32 MPG — $1,453
4Mercury Lynx Gas 32 MPG — $1,453
5Renault Alliance/Encore Gas 32 MPG — $1,453
6Toyota Corolla Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
7Dodge Omni Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
8Plymouth Horizon Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
9Toyota Corolla Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
10Ford Tempo Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
11Mercury Topaz Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
12Mazda 626 Diesel Diesel 33 MPG — $1,682
13Volkswagen Quantum Diesel Diesel 33 MPG — $1,682
14Toyota Camry Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
15Nissan Stanza Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
16Toyota Camry Diesel Diesel 32 MPG — $1,734
17Buick Skyhawk Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
18Oldsmobile Firenza Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
19Mazda 626 Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
20Cadillac Cimarron Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
21Ford Tempo Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
22Mercury Topaz Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
23Oldsmobile Omega Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
24Volvo 240 Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
25Buick Skylark Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
26Volvo 240 Diesel Diesel 26 MPG — $2,135
27Saab 900 Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
28Peugeot 505 Diesel Diesel 25 MPG — $2,220
29Peugeot 604 Diesel 24 MPG — $2,312
30BMW 5 Series Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
31Ford Thunderbird Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
32Mercury Cougar Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
33Peugeot 505 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
34Volkswagen Quantum Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
35Mercedes-Benz 300 Diesel Diesel 22 MPG — $2,523
36BMW 7 Series Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
37Bill Dovell Motor Car Company Dovell 230CE Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
38Bill Dovell Motor Car Company Dovell 230E Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
39Cadillac Eldorado Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
40Buick Riviera Gas 16 MPG — $2,906
41Mercedes-Benz 300 Gas 15 MPG — $3,100
42Kenyon Corporation Of America Kenyon 5.0 Coupe Gas 14 MPG — $3,321
43Kenyon Corporation Of America Kenyon 5.0 Sp Sedan Gas 14 MPG — $3,321
44Mercedes-Benz 500 Gas 13 MPG — $3,577
45Rolls-Royce Camargue Gas 8 MPG — $5,812

More 1984 rankings

1984 class rankings

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