1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger): MPG and fuel economy
The 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 17 combined MPG, with 15 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway. That is right around the average car in the Vans Passenger class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger). 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 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) is the most efficient car in the Vans Passenger class for the 1990 model year, with its 17 MPG rating leading the segment.
- The GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) has lost 6 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1985 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) at 22 MPG. That is often a sign of larger engines or heavier curb weights in newer generations.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $6,750 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 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger). 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 | 17 MPG |
| City MPG | 15 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 20 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,500 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 523 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) compares
The 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) returns 17 combined MPG, which is right around the 17 MPG class average for cars in the Vans Passenger class for the same model year.
Within the Vans Passenger class for the 1990 model year, the GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) is the leader. No other car in the same class beat its 17 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 1990 model year (across all classes) returns 19.1 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 1990 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 882.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,750 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,500 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,833 |
Year-over-year MPG for the GMC Safari 2WD (passenger)
The EPA has rated the GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) across 21 model years, from 1985 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) through 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger). 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.
The 1985 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) returned 22 MPG. The most recent 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) returns 16 MPG. That is a drop of 6 MPG over 20 model years. Newer trims that grow heavier or carry larger engines tend to lose efficiency even as the rest of the lineup improves.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 MPG | 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 2004 | 16 MPG | 2004 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 2003 | 16 MPG | 2003 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 2002 | 16 MPG | 2002 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 2001 | 17 MPG | 2001 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 2000 | 16 MPG | 2000 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1999 | 16 MPG | 1999 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1998 | 16 MPG | 1998 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1997 | 16 MPG | 1997 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1996 | 16 MPG | 1996 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1995 | 16 MPG | 1995 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1994 | 16 MPG | 1994 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1993 | 17 MPG | 1993 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1992 | 16 MPG | 1992 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1991 | 16 MPG | 1991 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1990 | 17 MPG | this page |
| 1989 | 18 MPG | 1989 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1988 | 18 MPG | 1988 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1987 | 17 MPG | 1987 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1986 | 22 MPG | 1986 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
| 1985 | 22 MPG | 1985 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) |
Specifications
The 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) runs a 4.3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through rear-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
- Vans Passenger
- Engine
- 4.3L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 17.5 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger)
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger).
-
Is the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) returns 17 combined MPG, and the average car in the Vans Passenger class for the same model year sits at 17 MPG. -
What MPG does the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) get?
The EPA rates the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) at 17 combined MPG, 15 MPG in city driving, and 20 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 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,500 for the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger). 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 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) use?
The EPA lists the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has actually slipped. The first EPA-rated GMC Safari 2WD (passenger), the 1985 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger), returned 22 MPG, while the most recent 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) returns 16 MPG. A drop of 6 MPG usually traces back to bigger engines or heavier curb weights in newer trims. -
How much CO₂ does the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger)?
City driving returns 15 MPG and highway driving returns 20 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger)?
The 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) has a 4.3-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: (FFS) FI). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) have?
The 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
Is the 1990 GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) the most efficient car in its class?
Yes. Among cars in the Vans Passenger class for the 1990 model year, the GMC Safari 2WD (passenger) returns the highest combined MPG at 17 MPG. No other car in the same class beats that figure.
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.