What was the gas mileage on the 1980 Chevy Citation?
The gas mileage on the 1980 Chevy Citation varied by engine and transmission; four-cylinder models typically ranged from about 28–30 mpg in city driving and 38–40 mpg on the highway, while the 2.8-liter V6 versions generally delivered around 20–23 mpg city and 28–30 mpg highway.
Engine choices and MPG ranges
Note: EPA ratings from 1980 varied by powertrain and transmission. The following figures reflect typical ranges reported for common Citation configurations of that year.
Four-cylinder options
- 2.5-liter inline-4 with manual transmission: approximately 28–30 mpg city / 38–40 mpg highway; combined around 32–34 mpg.
- 2.5-liter inline-4 with automatic transmission: approximately 26–28 mpg city / 36–38 mpg highway; combined around 31–32 mpg.
These four-cylinder figures illustrate how a manual transmission could edge out highway efficiency, while automatic versions typically delivered slightly lower city mileage.
V6 option
- 2.8-liter V6 with automatic transmission: approximately 20–23 mpg city / 28–30 mpg highway; combined around 24–26 mpg.
The V6 variant carried a noticeable fuel-economy penalty compared with the four-cylinder models, as was common for early transverse-front-drive setups of the era.
Real-world variations and driving conditions
In practice, many factors influenced actual mileage beyond the EPA estimates: vehicle maintenance, tire choice, trim weight, and driving style could widen or shrink the gap between official numbers and real-world results. Rarely did drivers see exactly the published figures, but the general trend remained clear—a small, efficient four-cylinder Citation could deliver notably better highway economy than the larger V6 model.
Summary
The 1980 Chevy Citation offered two four-cylinder configurations and a V6, with EPA-listed mpg figures that favored the four-cylinder models on the highway. Four-cylinders typically achieved roughly the upper 30s to around 40 mpg on highways and the low- to mid-30s overall, while the V6 was in the low 20s city and low 30s highway. For precise, trim-specific numbers, consult vintage EPA data or the original window sticker from that model year.
