1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro: MPG and fuel economy
The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 47 combined MPG, with 44 MPG in the city and 51 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Minicompact Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro. 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.
Key takeaways
- Returns 97% better combined MPG than the average car in the Minicompact Cars class for the 1988 model year (23.8 MPG class average).
- The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro is the most efficient car in the Minicompact Cars class for the 1988 model year, with its 47 MPG rating leading the segment.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $4,500 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro. 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 | 47 MPG |
| City MPG | 44 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 51 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,250 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 189 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro compares
The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro returns 47 combined MPG. Cars in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year average 23.8 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 97%.
Within the Minicompact Cars class for the 1988 model year, the Chevrolet Sprint Metro is the leader. No other car in the same class beat its 47 MPG rating. The bar chart below shows it alongside the class average and the average new car for some additional context.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1988 model year (across all classes) returns 19.5 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 1988 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 319.1 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $625 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,250 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $2,083 |
Compare against other Minicompact Cars for 1988
If you are cross-shopping the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Minicompact Cars 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.
Specifications
The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro runs a 1-liter 3-cylinder engine paired with a manual 5-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
- Minicompact Cars
- Engine
- 1L 3-cylinder
- Transmission
- Manual 5-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 6.3 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro.
-
Is the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro fuel efficient?
Yes. The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro returns 47 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year by about 97%. -
What MPG does the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro at 47 combined MPG, 44 MPG in city driving, and 51 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 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,250 for the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro. 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 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro use?
The EPA lists the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
How much CO₂ does the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 189 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 2,836 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro?
City driving returns 44 MPG and highway driving returns 51 MPG, a gap of 7 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 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro?
The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro has a 1-liter 3-cylinder engine (EPA description: (FFS)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro have?
The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro comes with a manual 5-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
Is the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro the most efficient car in its class?
Yes. Among cars in the Minicompact Cars class for the 1988 model year, the Chevrolet Sprint Metro returns the highest combined MPG at 47 MPG. No other car in the same class beats that figure. -
How much does the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro save on fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint Metro will save you about $4,500 in fuel compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year. That figure uses the same 15,000 mile per year and EPA fuel-price assumption as the annual fuel cost.
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.