1986 rankings · Midsize Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1986 Midsize Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 37 EPA-rated 1986 midsize cars by what they cost to fuel. The Dodge Aries leads at about $1,788 a year (26 MPG), while the Maserati Quattroporte is the most expensive to run at $5,812 (8 MPG). The median midsize car costs $2,447 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. 1Dodge Aries26 MPG $1,788
  2. 2Dodge Lancer26 MPG $1,788
  3. 3Plymouth Reliant26 MPG $1,788
  4. 4Chevrolet Celebrity24 MPG $1,938
  5. 5Buick Century23 MPG $2,022
  6. 6Ford Taurus23 MPG $2,022
  7. 7Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera23 MPG $2,022
  8. 8Pontiac 600023 MPG $2,022
  9. 9Plymouth Caravelle22 MPG $2,114
  10. 10Volvo 740/76022 MPG $2,114
  11. 11Chrysler New Yorker21 MPG $2,214
  12. 12Volvo 740/760 Diesel24 MPG $2,312
  13. 13Buick Riviera20 MPG $2,325
  14. 14Mercury Sable20 MPG $2,325
  15. 15Oldsmobile Toronado20 MPG $2,325

All 37 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Dodge Aries Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
2Dodge Lancer Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
3Plymouth Reliant Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
4Chevrolet Celebrity Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
5Buick Century Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
6Ford Taurus Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
7Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
8Pontiac 6000 Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
9Plymouth Caravelle Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
10Volvo 740/760 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
11Chrysler New Yorker Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
12Volvo 740/760 Diesel Diesel 24 MPG — $2,312
13Buick Riviera Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
14Mercury Sable Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
15Oldsmobile Toronado Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
16Ford LTD Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
17Mercury Marquis Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
18Buick Regal Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
19Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
20Pontiac Grand Prix Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
21Lincoln Continental Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
22Pontiac Bonneville Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
23Audi 5000 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
24Chevrolet Monte Carlo Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
25Lincoln Mark VII Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
26Mercedes-Benz 300 Diesel Diesel 22 MPG — $2,523
27Cadillac Eldorado Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
28Cadillac Seville Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
29Dodge Diplomat Gas 15 MPG — $3,100
30Plymouth Gran Fury Gas 15 MPG — $3,100
31Chrysler Limousine Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
32Chrysler Newport/Fifth Avenue Gas 16 MPG — $3,703
33Texas Coach Company 500SE Gas 12 MPG — $3,875
34Texas Coach Company 500SEL Gas 12 MPG — $3,875
35Mercedes-Benz 420 Gas 15 MPG — $3,950
36Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Spur/Mulsanne Gas 9 MPG — $5,167
37Maserati Quattroporte Gas 8 MPG — $5,812

More 1986 rankings

1986 class rankings

This ranking in other years