MPG Atlas

Home / Makes / Chevrolet / Spectrum

Chevrolet Spectrum MPG

EPA fuel economy for 10 Chevrolet Spectrum trims sold from 1985 to 1988. Best ever: 35 MPG (1985 Spectrum). Latest model year 1988: 27 to 33 MPG combined across 3 trims.

35best combined MPG (1985)
32 / 39city / highway of the best trim
27lowest combined MPG (1988)
4model years rated
$1,890a year to fuel, cheapest 1988 trim at EPA prices

Chevrolet Spectrum fuel cost calculator

Enter what you pay for fuel and how far you drive in a year. The starting prices are the ones the EPA uses for its own yearly fuel-cost estimates. Every cost on this page updates as you type.

At $4.16 a gallon for regular and 15,000 miles a year, the cheapest 1988 Chevrolet Spectrum to fuel is the Spectrum, 1.5 L, 4 cyl (33 MPG) at $1,890 a year. The Spectrum Turbo, 1.5 L, 4 cyl (27 MPG) costs $2,310, so the thriftier trim saves $420 a year and $2,100 over five years.

1988 trimEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCombCost/yrvs cheapest
Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular33$1,890cheapest
Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylAuto 3-spdFWDRegular28$2,230+$340
Spectrum Turbo1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular27$2,310+$420

Cost per year is miles per year divided by the EPA combined rating, times your fuel price; electric vehicles use the EPA's kWh per 100 miles instead. Rounded to the nearest $10. Your prices are kept in this browser only.

Chevrolet Spectrum MPG by year

YearBest combinedCityHwyBest trim that yearTrims
1988333137Spectrum, 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd3
1987333137Spectrum, 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd3
1986343238Spectrum, 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd2
1985353239Spectrum, 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd2

Every Chevrolet Spectrum trim

YearTrimEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCityHwyCombCO2 g/miFuel cost/yr
1988Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular313733269$1,890
1988Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylAuto 3-spdFWDRegular263028317$2,230
1988Spectrum Turbo1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular243327329$2,310
1987Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular313733269$1,890
1987Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylAuto 3-spdFWDRegular263028317$2,230
1987Spectrum Turbo1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular243327329$2,310
1986Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular323834261$1,840
1986Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylAuto 3-spdFWDRegular273129306$2,150
1985Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdFWDRegular323935254$1,780
1985Spectrum1.5 L, 4 cylAuto 3-spdFWDRegular283230296$2,080

CO2 is tailpipe grams per mile from the EPA test. Fuel cost per year uses the prices and miles in the calculator above (the EPA's own prices and 15,000 miles a year until you change them); blank when the fuel has no price here (hydrogen, natural gas).

Compare with other 1988 Subcompact Cars

VehicleCombinedCityHwy
1988 Chevrolet Sprint393643
1988 Pontiac Firefly393644
1988 Suzuki Forsa393644
1988 Ford Festiva353339
1988 Daihatsu Charade343238
1988 Isuzu I-Mark333137

All Subcompact Cars ranked by MPG

Questions people ask

What is the best MPG for a Chevrolet Spectrum?

The most efficient Chevrolet Spectrum the EPA has rated is the 1985 Spectrum at 35 MPG combined (32 city, 39 highway).

What MPG does the 1988 Chevrolet Spectrum get?

1988 Chevrolet Spectrum trims range from 27 to 33 MPG combined, depending on engine, transmission and drivetrain.

Which Chevrolet Spectrum has the worst fuel economy?

The 1988 Spectrum Turbo is the lowest rated at 27 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a Chevrolet Spectrum for a year?

At $4.16 a gallon for regular and 15,000 miles a year, the cheapest 1988 Chevrolet Spectrum to fuel is the Spectrum, 1.5 L, 4 cyl (33 MPG) at $1,890 a year. The Spectrum Turbo, 1.5 L, 4 cyl (27 MPG) costs $2,310, so the thriftier trim saves $420 a year and $2,100 over five years.

More from Chevrolet: every Chevrolet model. Fuel types on this model: Regular. EPA classes: Subcompact Cars.