This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon. 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

  • The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 1988 model year is the Honda Civic Wagon at 27 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $2,250 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 1988 Dacia Station Wagon. 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 23 MPG
City MPG 21 MPG
Highway MPG 28 MPG
Annual fuel cost $2,600
Tailpipe CO₂ 386 g/mi
Fuel type Regular

How the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon compares

The 1988 Dacia Station Wagon returns 23 combined MPG, which is right around the 22.9 MPG class average for cars in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year.

The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 1988 model year is the Honda Civic Wagon at 27 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Dacia Station Wagon 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.

1988 Dacia Station Wagon
23 MPG
Class average, 1988
22.9 MPG
Class best, 1988
27 MPG
Average new car, 1988
19.5 MPG

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 652.2 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,300
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $2,600
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $4,333

Compare against other Small Station Wagons for 1988

If you are cross-shopping the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small 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 Ford Escort Wagon leads this group at 32 MPG, 9 MPG ahead of the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon.

Specifications

The 1988 Dacia Station Wagon runs a 1.4-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
Small Station Wagons
Engine
1.4L 4-cylinder
Transmission
Manual 5-spd
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Regular
Annual petroleum use
12.9 barrels per year

Common questions about the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon.

  • Is the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon fuel efficient?
    It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1988 Dacia Station Wagon returns 23 combined MPG, and the average car in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year sits at 22.9 MPG.
  • What MPG does the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon get?
    The EPA rates the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon at 23 combined MPG, 21 MPG in city driving, and 28 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 Dacia Station Wagon per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,600 for the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon. 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 Dacia Station Wagon use?
    The EPA lists the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon 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 Dacia Station Wagon emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 386 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,796 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon?
    City driving returns 21 MPG and highway driving returns 28 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 Dacia Station Wagon?
    The 1988 Dacia Station Wagon has a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: (FFS) (MPFI)).
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon have?
    The 1988 Dacia Station Wagon comes with a manual 5-spd transmission and front-wheel drive.
  • How does the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 1988 model year is the Honda Civic Wagon at 27 combined MPG. The Dacia Station Wagon returns 23 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
  • How much more does the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon cost in fuel compared to an average car?
    The EPA estimates that over five years, the 1988 Dacia Station Wagon will cost about $2,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.

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.