Saturn SL Gas Mileage

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Throughout its run, the Saturn SL’s gas mileage ratings put it at top of the shortlist for many budget-minded families. The SL’s highway estimates ranged from the mid-thirties up to the fourty mile per gallon (MPG) range. The SL sedans presented a bold statement that GM was capable of competing with the best in class from overseas.

For those looking for a fuel-efficient used car today, the Saturn SL sedan’s great gas mileage ratings present a compelling option.

1999 Saturn SL2

The SL sedan was built with a 1.9 liter four cylinder engine in single overhead cam (SOHC) and dual overhead cam (DOHC) varients. The SL and SL1 were fitted with the SOHC engine, which produced 100 horsepower (HP) and 114 foot pounds of torque. The SL2 was equipped with the more powerful 16-valve DOHC engine, which produced 124 HP and 122 foot pounds of torque.


Saturn SL Gas Mileage: 1991-2002

Year Manf. Model Engine Disp. Fuel Trans. City Hwy
2002 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 37
2002 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 25 36
2002 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 27 38
2002 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 29 40
2001 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 37
2001 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 25 35
2001 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 29 40
2001 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 27 38
2000 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 27 38
2000 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 29 40
2000 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 25 36
2000 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 38
1999 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 37
1999 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 25 35
1999 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 27 38
1999 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 29 40
1998 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 24 34
1998 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 37
1998 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 26 36
1998 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 28 39
1997 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 28 40
1997 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 27 37
1997 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 37
1997 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 24 34
1996 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 29 40
1996 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 25 35
1996 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 24 34
1996 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 36
1995 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 27 36
1995 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 25 35
1995 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 24 34
1995 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 28 40
1994 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 26 35
1994 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 25 34
1994 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 28 37
1994 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 23 32
1993 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 24 35
1993 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 28 37
1993 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 24 33
1993 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 26 36
1992 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 24 33
1992 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 28 38
1992 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 23 32
1992 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 26 35
1991 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 24 34
1991 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (M5) Manual 27 37
1991 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 26 35
1991 Saturn SL 4 cylinder 1.9 liter R (L4) Auto 23 32

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8 thoughts on “Saturn SL Gas Mileage”

  2. On a cross-country trip, in 2008, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. to Phoenix, Az., my 1995 Saturn (SL1 4cyl\5-spd) got as high as 43.7mpg!
    Being a construction technician and somewhat of a math geek, I conducted a test (level highway driving) & noted the following results (mph to mpg) …
    @55-60mph = 42-44mpg
    @60-65mph = 40-42mpg
    @65-70mph = 38-40mpg
    I also tried something I’d seen on the internet known as “Hyper-Miling”. It’s a technique whereby, on mountainous terrain, you pull the car out-of-gear and coast downhill. I noticed there was a fuel-savings (there had to be…you didn’t touch the gas pedal!) that averaged the same as on the open, level highway.
    Thought I’d share,
    Mike

  3. i made mine a ram air intake free flow muffler and i only get 39 mpg out of my 95 sl1 5 speed still a great car still looking to get more mpg out of it

  4. Gotta ask, I’m looking at a 98 automatic SL2 for my 16 yr old son.. has 86,000 miles..

    Hoping the 4 cylinder will help with the insurance.. are these decent cars?? Do they have alot of probs?? I saw another site that mentioned issues with going thru lots of Oil, and oil leaks..

    also want to know how these cars handle being in a wreck?? Do they crumple like tin cans?? they are so small, but my son loves them.. I just want to make sure he is safe.. any answers would be great!!!!!!

  5. I really can’t believe that gm decided to shut down this cars that are so good in fuel economy recession that’s just a really stupid thing to do when they could have kept these good mpg vehicles and line them up in their Chevrolet division and have the best mpg vehicles out there I think this is b%$* thou every one knows that the government must probably had something to do with this shut off too

  6. I recently inherited my moms 1996 sl2 and it only has 20,000 miles on it. She didn’t drive much. I love driving it around, it’s much more sporty than my SUV! Thanks for the info on it!

  7. I bough my 97 with149k now it has180k at2000 rpm the car gets40 mpg. I replaced a temature sensor and two plastic shift cable ends wich can only be purchest after market . Saturn wants you to buy the whole cable . The car is always one quart low at4000 mile oil change . I have been driving since 1969 had about twenty cars and my saturn is the best car I ever had . VW rabbit was second best .

  8. A friend gave me a 02 sl2 that had 167K on it and it has been a very dependable car. It has 220k on it now and I’ve only replaced brakes all the way around, the shifter cable, the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder as a kit. Oh yeah, it knocks down 35 mpg all day long. I think I can easily pull another 100k out of it.

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