Cheap High MPG Cars: 1985

1985 marked a turning point for high-MPG cars in the United States. According to the EPA data, the number of vehicles exceeding the 40 MPG highway mark in 1985 dropped dramatically from the previous year. As the price of gasoline fell, so too did America’s appetite for small fuel-efficient cars.

The drop was most clearly seen at General Motors, as Buick, Cadillac, and Oldsmobile were all gone from the ranks of the 40+ MPG pack. Chevrolet’s 40+ MPG offerings were reduced to just 8 versions of the Chevette, Sprint, and Spectrum. (An exceptionally thrifty version of the 3-cylinder manual Sprint scored 53 MPG highway.) Pontiac had the 1000, Sunbird, and Firefly (which like it’s Sprint cousin, also scored 53 MPG). Chrysler-Plymouth offered the Plymouth Colt, Horizon, and Turismo, along with the Dodge Colt, Omni, and Charger. Ford’s 1985 high-MPG fleet contained the Escort, EXP, and Tempo, as well as the Lincoln-Mercury Lynx and Topaz.

The ranks of the highest-MPG imports contracted, as well. Honda’s Civic rode it alone with the highest MPG honor going to the Civic HF and Civic CRX HF which scored 51 and 54 miles per gallon on the highway, respectively. Nissan’s over 40 MPG entries were reduced to just the Sentra diesel, which delivered a very respectable 49 and 50 MPG highway. The 626 soldiered on at Mazda, while Mitsubishi offered just the Mirage. Volkswagen stayed the course with the Golf (formerly the Rabbit) and Jetta diesels. The Corolla was Toyota’s sole 40+ MPG offering in 1985.

The Portland Biodiesel Co-op has an excellent chart that shows the decline specifically in the number of diesel-powered vehicles from the 1960s through 2002.

1985 High MPG Gas Mileage Rankings

– by Daniel Gray