2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger): MPG and fuel economy

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2005 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.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2005 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).

How the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) compares

The 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) returns 16 combined MPG. Cars in the Vans, Passenger Type class for the same model year average 14.8 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 8%.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2005 model year (across all classes) returns 18.5 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 2005 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 937.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

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.

Compare against other Vans, Passenger Type for 2005

If you are cross-shopping the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger), the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Vans, Passenger Type 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 2005 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 Type

Engine

4.3L 6-cylinder

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Fuel type

Regular

Annual petroleum use

18.6 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger)

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger).

• Is the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) fuel efficient?

  It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) returns 16 combined MPG, and the average car in the Vans, Passenger Type class for the same model year sits at 14.8 MPG.
• What MPG does the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) get?

  The EPA rates the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) at 16 combined MPG, 14 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 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) per year?

  The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,750 for the 2005 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 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) use?

  The EPA lists the 2005 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 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) emit?

  Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 555 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 8,332 kilograms of CO₂.
• What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger)?

  City driving returns 14 MPG and highway driving returns 20 MPG, a gap of 6 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 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger)?

  The 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) has a 4.3-liter 6-cylinder engine.
• What transmission and drivetrain does the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) have?

  The 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive.
• How much more does the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) cost in fuel compared to an average car?

  The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2005 GMC Safari 2WD (Passenger) will cost about $8,000 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.