1988 rankings · Midsize Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1988 Midsize Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 37 EPA-rated 1988 midsize cars by what they cost to fuel. The Dodge Aries leads at about $1,860 a year (25 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur is the most expensive to run at $5,167 (9 MPG). The median midsize car costs $2,325 a year to fuel. The class includes 0 electric and 1 hybrid or plug-in model.

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. 1Dodge Aries25 MPG $1,860
  2. 2Dodge Lancer25 MPG $1,860
  3. 3Plymouth Reliant25 MPG $1,860
  4. 4Eagle Renault Medallion25 MPG $1,860
  5. 5Buick Century24 MPG $1,938
  6. 6Ford Taurus24 MPG $1,938
  7. 7Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera24 MPG $1,938
  8. 8Chevrolet Celebrity24 MPG $1,938
  9. 9Pontiac 600024 MPG $1,938
  10. 10Mazda 626/MX-624 MPG $1,938
  11. 11Dodge 60023 MPG $2,022
  12. 12Plymouth Caravelle23 MPG $2,022
  13. 13Dodge Dynasty22 MPG $2,114
  14. 14Volvo 740/76022 MPG $2,114
  15. 15Buick Regal21 MPG $2,214

All 37 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Dodge Aries Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
2Dodge Lancer Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
3Plymouth Reliant Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
4Eagle Renault Medallion Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
5Buick Century Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
6Ford Taurus Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
7Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
8Chevrolet Celebrity Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
9Pontiac 6000 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
10Mazda 626/MX-6 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
11Dodge 600 Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
12Plymouth Caravelle Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
13Dodge Dynasty Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
14Volvo 740/760 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
15Buick Regal Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
16Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
17Pontiac Grand Prix Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
18Buick Riviera Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
19Oldsmobile Toronado Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
20Audi 5000 Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
21Chevrolet Monte Carlo Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
22Mazda 929 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
23Chrysler New Yorker/5th Avenue Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
24Chevrolet Monte Carlo Hybrid Hybrid 18 MPG — $2,583
25Lincoln Mark VII Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
26Merkur Scorpio Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
27Cadillac Eldorado Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
28Cadillac Seville Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
29BMW 7 Series Gas 16 MPG — $2,906
30Chrysler New Yorker Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
31CX Automotive CX Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
32Chrysler Newport/Fifth Avenue Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
33Dodge Diplomat Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
34Plymouth Gran Fury Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
35Mercedes-Benz 420 Gas 15 MPG — $3,950
36Rolls-Royce Eight/Mulsan/Mulsanne Gas 9 MPG — $5,167
37Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur Gas 9 MPG — $5,167

More 1988 rankings

1988 class rankings

This ranking in other years