1988 CX Automotive Cxestate: MPG and fuel economy
The 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 19 combined MPG, with 16 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. That is right around the average car in the Midsize-Large Station Wagons class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate. 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. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. 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 Midsize-Large Station Wagons class for the 1988 model year is the Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon at 24 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $7,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate. 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.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.
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 | 19 MPG |
| City MPG | 16 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 24 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,650 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 468 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate compares
The 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate returns 19 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize-Large Station Wagons class for the same model year average 19.5 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 3%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize-Large Station Wagons class for the 1988 model year is the Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon at 24 MPG. The bar chart below puts the CX Automotive Cxestate alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
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.
Trim variants rated for 1988
The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 MPG | 16 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,650 |
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 MPG | 16 MPG | 20 MPG | $4,050 |
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 premium gasoline, which is $4.61/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 789.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,825 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,650 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $6,083 |
Year-over-year MPG for the CX Automotive Cxestate
The EPA has rated the CX Automotive Cxestate across 2 model years, from 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate through 1989 CX Automotive Cxestate. 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 16 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 16 MPG | 1989 CX Automotive Cxestate |
| 1988 | 19 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Midsize-Large Station Wagons for 1988
If you are cross-shopping the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize-Large Station Wagons 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 Dodge Aries Wagon leads this group at 25 MPG, 6 MPG ahead of the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate.
Specifications
The 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate runs a 2.5-liter 4-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
- Midsize-Large Station Wagons
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Manual 5-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 15.7 barrels per year
- Gas guzzler tax
- Applies (federal)
Common questions about the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate.
-
Is the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate returns 19 combined MPG, and the average car in the Midsize-Large Station Wagons class for the same model year sits at 19.5 MPG. -
What MPG does the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate get?
The EPA rates the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate at 19 combined MPG, 16 MPG in city driving, and 24 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 CX Automotive Cxestate per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,650 for the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate. 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. -
Does the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
How much CO₂ does the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 468 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,016 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate?
City driving returns 16 MPG and highway driving returns 24 MPG, a gap of 8 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 CX Automotive Cxestate?
The 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: (GUZZLER) (FFS)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate have?
The 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate comes with a manual 5-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize-Large Station Wagons class for the 1988 model year is the Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon at 24 combined MPG. The CX Automotive Cxestate returns 19 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
Does the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate qualify for the gas guzzler tax?
Yes. The federal Gas Guzzler Tax applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG, and the 1988 CX Automotive Cxestate falls below that threshold. The tax is paid by the manufacturer at the point of sale and is built into the sticker price, so you will not see a separate line item at the dealership. Pickup trucks and SUVs are exempt from this tax even when their efficiency is lower.
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.