1989 Buick Reatta: MPG and fuel economy
The 1989 Buick Reatta is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 20 combined MPG, with 17 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. That sits a little above the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1989 Buick Reatta. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 1989 model year is the Honda Civic CRX HF at 44 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $4,250 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1989 Buick Reatta. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
| City MPG | 17 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 26 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,000 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 444 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 1989 Buick Reatta compares
The 1989 Buick Reatta returns 20 combined MPG. Cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year average 18.4 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 9%.
The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 1989 model year is the Honda Civic CRX HF at 44 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Buick Reatta alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1989 model year (across all classes) returns 19.4 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 1989 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 750 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,500 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,000 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,000 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Buick Reatta
The EPA has rated the Buick Reatta across 4 model years, from 1988 Buick Reatta through 1991 Buick Reatta. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 19 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19 MPG | 1991 Buick Reatta |
| 1990 | 19 MPG | 1990 Buick Reatta |
| 1989 | 20 MPG | this page |
| 1988 | 20 MPG | 1988 Buick Reatta |
Compare against other Two Seaters for 1989
If you are cross-shopping the 1989 Buick Reatta, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Honda Civic CRX HF leads this group at 44 MPG, 24 MPG ahead of the 1989 Buick Reatta.
Specifications
The 1989 Buick Reatta runs a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Two Seaters
- Engine
- 3.8L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 14.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1989 Buick Reatta
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1989 Buick Reatta.
-
Is the 1989 Buick Reatta fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1989 Buick Reatta returns 20 combined MPG, and the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year sits at 18.4 MPG. -
What MPG does the 1989 Buick Reatta get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Buick Reatta at 20 combined MPG, 17 MPG in city driving, and 26 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 1989 Buick Reatta per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,000 for the 1989 Buick Reatta. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 1989 Buick Reatta use?
The EPA lists the 1989 Buick Reatta as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Buick Reatta become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1988 Buick Reatta, 20 MPG) and most recent (1991 Buick Reatta, 19 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 1989 Buick Reatta emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 444 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,665 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1989 Buick Reatta?
City driving returns 17 MPG and highway driving returns 26 MPG, a gap of 9 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 1989 Buick Reatta?
The 1989 Buick Reatta has a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: (FFS)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1989 Buick Reatta have?
The 1989 Buick Reatta comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 1989 Buick Reatta compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 1989 model year is the Honda Civic CRX HF at 44 combined MPG. The Buick Reatta returns 20 MPG, a gap of 24 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.