1988 Mercury Tracer MPG and Fuel Economy

On this page, you will find a complete guide to the miles per gallon and fuel efficiency data for the 1988 Mercury Tracer.

The 1988 Mercury Tracer has 2 model options: Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L and Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L.

The 1988 Mercury Tracer Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Compact Cars car class.

The 1988 Mercury Tracer Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Compact Cars car class.

🛣 How Many Miles per Gallon (MPG) Does a 1988 Mercury Tracer Get?

Across all models, the combined average MPG for the 1988 Mercury Tracer is 26 miles per gallon.

The table below breaks down the MPG for each model option:

Model OptionCombined MPGCity MPGHighway MPG
Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L242226
Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L272432

💵 What is the Average Yearly Fuel Cost for a 1988 Mercury Tracer?

The average fuel costs for all models of the 1988 Mercury Tracer is $2,450.

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 1988 Mercury Tracer to an average vehicle over 5 years, you will spend $750 more on fuel.

The table below shows the fuel costs and 5-year save/spend for each model option:

Model OptionFuel Cost5-Year Save/Spend
Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L$2,600spend $1,500 more
Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L$2,300save $0

🛢 How Many Barrels of Petroleum Does a 1988 Mercury Tracer Consume?

Across all models, the average number barrels of petroleum that the 1988 Mercury Tracer will consume in one year is 12 barrels.

The majority of the world's petroleum is sourced from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the United States.

Model OptionBarrels
Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L12
Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L11

💨 How Many Grams of CO2 Does a 1988 Mercury Tracer Emit?

The 1988 Mercury Tracer 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 1988 Mercury Tracer.

Overview

The tables below cover all of the miles per gallon, engine specifications, and emission details we have for the 2 1988 Mercury Tracer model options.

Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1988 Mercury Tracer Automatic 3-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L:

City MPG22
Highway MPG26
Combined MPG24
Save/Spend vs Average CarSpend $1,500
Fuel Cost$2,600
Fuel Type 1Regular
Barrels of Petroleum12
Grams of CO2-15,000
Trees Needed to Offset-1
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Cylinders4
Displacement1.6
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd
Vehicle ClassCompact Cars
Start/Stop?No
Supercharged?No
Turbocharged?No

Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1988 Mercury Tracer Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.6 L:

City MPG24
Highway MPG32
Combined MPG27
Save/Spend vs Average CarSave $0
Fuel Cost$2,300
Fuel Type 1Regular
Barrels of Petroleum11
Grams of CO2-15,000
Trees Needed to Offset-1
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Cylinders4
Displacement1.6
TransmissionManual 5-spd
Vehicle ClassCompact 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.

  • "1988 Mercury Tracer MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercury/tracer/1988.

  • "1988 Mercury Tracer MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercury/tracer/1988. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • 1988 Mercury Tracer MPG and Fuel Economy. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/mercury/tracer/1988.