What was the gas mileage on the 82 Chevy Chevette?
In the 1982 Chevette lineup, fuel economy generally hovered in the high 20s to low 30s miles per gallon in city driving and approached the 40 mpg mark on highways, with actual numbers varying by engine and transmission.
The 1982 Chevette was part of General Motors’ small-car era, built for economy and practicality. Its mileage depended on the drivetrain and conditions, and it lived in an era when EPA estimates and real-world driving could diverge more than in modern vehicles. Most common configurations used a small four-cylinder engine paired with either a manual or an automatic transmission, influencing the exact miles-per-gallon results.
What affected mileage on the Chevette
Several factors influenced fuel economy for the Chevette: engine size, transmission, tire size, drivetrain condition, and driving style. The car’s compact design and lightweight construction aided efficiency, but city traffic, acceleration habits, and maintenance (like air filters and spark plugs) could swing MPG noticeably from the sticker estimates.
Typical EPA estimates by configuration
Below are the common EPA-style ranges cited for 1982 Chevette configurations, reflecting how transmission choice and gearing could impact efficiency:
- Manual transmission (typical 1.6L four-cylinder): city approximately 28–31 mpg; highway about 40–44 mpg.
- Automatic transmission (typical 1.6L four-cylinder): city approximately 26–29 mpg; highway about 38–42 mpg.
These figures are approximate, reflecting era-era testing and the likelihood that real-world results varied with driving conditions and model specifics. The Chevette’s economy was generally strong for its class, but the exact number depended on the setup and how the car was driven.
Real-world performance
In everyday use, owners and testers often saw mixed driving mpg that lay somewhere between the EPA-style estimates and a driver’s own habits. A steady, gentle driving pattern with proper maintenance could yield results toward the upper ends of the ranges, while aggressive acceleration or heavy city traffic typically pulled mpg lower.
Notes for collectors and enthusiasts
For those restoring or preserving a 1982 Chevette, matching original tires, keeping the carburetion or fuel-injection system in proper tune, and maintaining carburetor or fuel-system components can help preserve closer-to-original fuel economy expectations from period tests.
Summary
The 1982 Chevy Chevette’s fuel economy was respectable for its era, typically in the high 20s to low 30s mpg in city driving and around 40 mpg on highways, with exact numbers dependent on engine and transmission configurations. Real-world mileage varied with driving conditions and maintenance, but the Chevette remains a benchmark example of early-80s economical city transport.
