1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo): MPG and fuel economy

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo). 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 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo). 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 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) compares

The 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) returns 15 combined MPG. Cars in the Vans class for the same model year average 15.3 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 2%.

The most efficient car in the Vans class for the 1992 model year is the Ford Aerostar Van at 18 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 1992 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 1992 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 1000 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Year-over-year MPG for the Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo)

The EPA has rated the Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) across 2 model years, from 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) through 1995 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo). 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.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 15 MPG.

Compare against other Vans for 1992

If you are cross-shopping the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo), the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Vans 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 Aerostar Van leads this group at 20 MPG, 5 MPG ahead of the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo).

Specifications

The 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a manual 5-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

Engine

3L 6-cylinder

Transmission

Manual 5-spd

Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Fuel type

Regular

Annual petroleum use

19.8 barrels per year

Common questions about the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo)

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo).

• Is the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) fuel efficient?

  It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) returns 15 combined MPG, and the average car in the Vans class for the same model year sits at 15.3 MPG.
• What MPG does the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) get?

  The EPA rates the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) at 15 combined MPG, 14 MPG in city driving, and 17 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 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) per year?

  The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,000 for the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo). 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 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) use?

  The EPA lists the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
• How much CO₂ does the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) emit?

  Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 592 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 8,887 kilograms of CO₂.
• What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo)?

  City driving returns 14 MPG and highway driving returns 17 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 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo)?

  The 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) has a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: (FFS)).
• What transmission and drivetrain does the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) have?

  The 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) comes with a manual 5-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive.
• How does the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) compare to the best car in its class?

  The most efficient car in the Vans class for the 1992 model year is the Ford Aerostar Van at 18 combined MPG. The Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) returns 15 MPG, a gap of 3 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
• How much more does the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) cost in fuel compared to an average car?

  The EPA estimates that over five years, the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder Van (cargo) will cost about $9,250 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.