1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL MPG and Fuel Economy
On this page, you will find a complete guide to the miles per gallon and fuel efficiency data for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL.
The 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL has 2 model options: Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L and Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L.
The 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L runs on premium gasoline and is in the Midsize Cars car class.
The 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Large Cars car class.
🛣 How Many Miles per Gallon (MPG) Does a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Get?
Across all models, the combined average MPG for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL is 16 miles per gallon.
The table below breaks down the MPG for each model option:
| Model Option | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | 16 | 15 | 17 |
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | 15 | 15 | 16 |
💵 What is the Average Yearly Fuel Cost for a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL?
The average fuel costs for all models of the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL is $4,375.
The average fuel costs have been estimated by government regulators based on 15,000 miles driven per year, using regular gasoline, and a split of 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.
Comparing a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL to an average vehicle over 5 years, you will spend $10,375 more on fuel.
The table below shows the fuel costs and 5-year save/spend for each model option:
| Model Option | Fuel Cost | 5-Year Save/Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | $4,600 | spend $11,500 more |
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | $4,150 | spend $9,250 more |
The 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL is also subject to the Gas Guzzler Tax, which is a federal tax on vehicles that has a combined MPG of less than 22.5.
The tables below show how much you can expect to pay in Gas Guzzler taxes.
| Model Option | Gas Guzzler Tax |
|---|---|
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | $3,700 |
| Model Option | Gas Guzzler Tax |
|---|---|
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | $4,500 |
🛢 How Many Barrels of Petroleum Does a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Consume?
Across all models, the average number barrels of petroleum that the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL will consume in one year is 20 barrels.
The majority of the world's petroleum is sourced from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the United States.
| Model Option | Barrels |
|---|---|
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | 19 |
| Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L | 20 |
💨 How Many Grams of CO2 Does a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Emit?
The 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL will emit an average of about -15,000 grams of CO2 per year.
🌳 To help you understand the impact of this, a normal tree will absorb around 21,000 grams of CO2 per year. This means that roughly 1 tree would be needed to offset emissions from the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL.
Overview
The tables below cover all of the miles per gallon, engine specifications, and emission details we have for the 2 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL model options.
Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L:
| City MPG | 15 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 17 |
| Combined MPG | 16 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Spend $11,500 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | $3,700 |
| Fuel Cost | $4,600 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Premium |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 19 |
| Grams of CO2 | -15,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | -1 |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Vehicle Class | Midsize Cars |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | No |
Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.0 L:
| City MPG | 15 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 16 |
| Combined MPG | 15 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Spend $9,250 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | $4,500 |
| Fuel Cost | $4,150 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Regular |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 20 |
| Grams of CO2 | -15,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | -1 |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Vehicle Class | Large Cars |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | No |
Link To or Reference This Page
If you use this page in your research, please reference MPG Buddy as the source.
<a href="https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercedes-benz/300sel/1989">1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL MPG and Fuel Economy</a>
"1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercedes-benz/300sel/1989.
"1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercedes-benz/300sel/1989. Accessed January 3, 2026.
1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL MPG and Fuel Economy. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercedes-benz/300sel/1989.