This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe. 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 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. 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 Minicompact Cars class for the 2008 model year is the MINI MiniE at 98 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $6,500 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 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe. 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 2 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 20 MPG
City MPG 17 MPG
Highway MPG 24 MPG
Annual fuel cost $3,450
Tailpipe CO₂ 444 g/mi
Fuel type Premium

How the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe compares

The 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe returns 20 combined MPG. Cars in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year average 23.1 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 13%.

The most efficient car in the Minicompact Cars class for the 2008 model year is the MINI MiniE at 98 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2008 model year (across all classes) returns 19.1 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 2008 model year is on its own page.

2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe
20 MPG
Class average, 2008
23.1 MPG
Class best, 2008
98 MPG
Average new car, 2008
19.1 MPG

Trim variants rated for 2008

The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe. 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.

Engine and transmission Drive Combined City Highway Annual cost
3.8L, 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd Rear-Wheel Drive 20 MPG 17 MPG 24 MPG $3,450
3.8L, 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd Rear-Wheel Drive 20 MPG 17 MPG 25 MPG $3,450

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 750 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,725
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $3,450
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $5,750

Year-over-year MPG for the Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe

The EPA has rated the Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe across 5 model years, from 2005 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe through 2009 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe. 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 22 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2009 22 MPG 2009 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe
2008 20 MPG this page
2007 20 MPG 2007 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe
2006 19 MPG 2006 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe
2005 19 MPG 2005 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe

Compare against other Minicompact Cars for 2008

If you are cross-shopping the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Minicompact 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 MINI MiniE leads this group at 98 MPG, 78 MPG ahead of the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe.

Specifications

The 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe runs a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 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
Minicompact Cars
Engine
3.8L 6-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic 5-spd
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Premium
Annual petroleum use
14.9 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe.

  • Is the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe returns 20 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year by about 13%.
  • What MPG does the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe get?
    The EPA rates the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe at 20 combined MPG, 17 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 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,450 for the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe. 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 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe require premium gas?
    Yes. The EPA lists the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe 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.
  • Has the Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2005 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe, 19 MPG) and most recent (2009 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe, 22 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 444 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,665 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe?
    City driving returns 17 MPG and highway driving returns 24 MPG, a gap of 7 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 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe?
    The 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe has a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe have?
    The 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe comes with a automatic 5-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2008 Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Minicompact Cars class for the 2008 model year is the MINI MiniE at 98 combined MPG. The Porsche Carrera 2 S Coupe returns 20 MPG, a gap of 78 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

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.