1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo: MPG and fuel economy
The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 17 combined MPG, with 15 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo. 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.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 1989 model year is the Chevrolet Corsica at 24 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $9,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo. 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).
| Combined MPG | 17 MPG |
| City MPG | 15 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 23 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $4,050 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 523 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo compares
The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo returns 17 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 18.8 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 10%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 1989 model year is the Chevrolet Corsica at 24 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1989 model year (across all classes) returns 19.4 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 1989 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 premium gasoline, which is $4.61/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 882.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $2,025 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $4,050 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $6,750 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo
The EPA has rated the Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo across 2 model years, from 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo through 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo. 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 18 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18 MPG | 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo |
| 1989 | 17 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 1989
If you are cross-shopping the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize 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 Chevrolet Corsica leads this group at 25 MPG, 8 MPG ahead of the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo.
Specifications
The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo runs a 3.1-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through front-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
- Midsize Cars
- Engine
- 3.1L 6-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 17.5 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo.
-
Is the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo returns 17 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 10%. -
What MPG does the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo at 17 combined MPG, 15 MPG in city driving, and 23 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 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,050 for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo. 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. -
Does the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
How much CO₂ does the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo?
City driving returns 15 MPG and highway driving returns 23 MPG, a gap of 8 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 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo?
The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo has a 3.1-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: (FFS,TRBO)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo have?
The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 1989 model year is the Chevrolet Corsica at 24 combined MPG. The Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo returns 17 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much more does the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo cost in fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo will cost about $9,500 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.