1985 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1985 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 52 EPA-rated 1985 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Ford Escort Diesel leads at about $1,388 a year (40 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Camargue is the most expensive to run at $5,812 (8 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,860 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 Diesel40 MPG $1,388
  2. 2Mercury Lynx Diesel40 MPG $1,388
  3. 3Ford Escort33 MPG $1,409
  4. 4Mercury Lynx33 MPG $1,409
  5. 5Renault Alliance/Encore32 MPG $1,453
  6. 6Toyota Corolla Diesel36 MPG $1,542
  7. 7Subaru Sedan30 MPG $1,550
  8. 8Dodge Omni30 MPG $1,550
  9. 9Plymouth Horizon30 MPG $1,550
  10. 10Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  11. 11Volkswagen Jetta Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  12. 12Chevrolet Nova29 MPG $1,603
  13. 13Ford Tempo Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  14. 14Mercury Topaz Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  15. 15Mazda 626 Diesel33 MPG $1,682

All 52 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Ford Escort Diesel Diesel 40 MPG — $1,388
2Mercury Lynx Diesel Diesel 40 MPG — $1,388
3Ford Escort Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
4Mercury Lynx Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
5Renault Alliance/Encore Gas 32 MPG — $1,453
6Toyota Corolla Diesel Diesel 36 MPG — $1,542
7Subaru Sedan Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
8Dodge Omni Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
9Plymouth Horizon Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
10Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
11Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
12Chevrolet Nova Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
13Ford Tempo Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
14Mercury Topaz Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
15Mazda 626 Diesel Diesel 33 MPG — $1,682
16Toyota Camry Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
17Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
18Volkswagen Jetta Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
19Chevrolet Cavalier Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
20Buick Skyhawk Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
21Nissan Stanza Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
22Oldsmobile Firenza Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
23Volkswagen Quantum Diesel Diesel 31 MPG — $1,790
24Mazda 626 Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
25Buick Skylark Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
26Ford Tempo Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
27Mercury Topaz Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
28Pontiac Grand Am Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
29Buick Somerset Regal Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
30Oldsmobile Calais Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
31Cadillac Cimarron Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
32Toyota Camry Diesel Diesel 27 MPG — $2,056
33Volvo 240 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
34Peugeot 505 Diesel Diesel 26 MPG — $2,135
35Mitsubishi Galant Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
36Saab 900 Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
37BMW 5 Series Diesel Diesel 24 MPG — $2,312
38BMW 5 Series Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
39Nissan Maxima Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
40Ford Thunderbird Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
41Mercury Cougar Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
42Merkur XR4Ti Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
43Peugeot 505 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
44Mercedes-Benz 300 Diesel Diesel 21 MPG — $2,643
45Buick Riviera Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
46Cadillac Eldorado Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
47Bill Dovell Motor Car Company Dovell 230CE Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
48Bill Dovell Motor Car Company Dovell 230E Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
49BMW 7 Series Gas 16 MPG — $2,906
50Toyota Cressida Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
51Mercedes-Benz 500 Gas 14 MPG — $3,321
52Rolls-Royce Camargue Gas 8 MPG — $5,812

More 1985 rankings

1985 class rankings

This ranking in other years