1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE: MPG and fuel economy
The 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 22 combined MPG, with 21 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. That is right around the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE. 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 5 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1984 model year is the Ford Tempo at 34 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $7,750 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 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE. 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 5 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 | 22 MPG |
| City MPG | 21 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 24 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,700 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 463 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
How the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE compares
The 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE returns 22 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 21.7 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 1%.
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1984 model year is the Ford Tempo at 34 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1984 model year (across all classes) returns 19.2 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 1984 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 1984
The EPA rates 5 separate variants of the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE. 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.
The most efficient configuration on this page returns 22 MPG, while the least efficient returns 15 MPG. That is a spread of 7 MPG between trims of the same nameplate.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L, 5-cyl, turbo, Automatic 4-spd | — | 22 MPG | 21 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,700 |
| 3L, 5-cyl, Automatic 4-spd | — | 22 MPG | 21 MPG | 23 MPG | $3,700 |
| 3L, 5-cyl, turbo, Automatic 4-spd | — | 22 MPG | 21 MPG | 23 MPG | $3,700 |
| 3.8L, 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd | — | 15 MPG | 15 MPG | 17 MPG | $4,000 |
| 3.8L, 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd | — | 15 MPG | 15 MPG | 17 MPG | $4,000 |
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 diesel, which is $5.40/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 681.8 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,850 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,700 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $6,167 |
Compare against other Compact Cars for 1984
If you are cross-shopping the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact 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.
The Ford Escort leads this group at 39 MPG, 17 MPG ahead of the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE.
Specifications
The 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE runs a 3-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic 4-spd.
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
- Compact Cars
- Engine
- 3L 5-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Annual petroleum use
- 16.2 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE.
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Is the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE returns 22 combined MPG, and the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year sits at 21.7 MPG. -
What MPG does the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE get?
The EPA rates the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE at 22 combined MPG, 21 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 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,700 for the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE. 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 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE use?
The EPA lists the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE as running on diesel. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
How much CO₂ does the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 463 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,941 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE?
City driving returns 21 MPG and highway driving returns 24 MPG, a gap of 3 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 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE?
The 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE has a 3-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: (DSL,TRBO)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE have?
The 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission. -
How does the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1984 model year is the Ford Tempo at 34 combined MPG. The Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE returns 22 MPG, a gap of 12 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much more does the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE cost in fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD/380SE will cost about $7,750 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.