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2004 Pontiac Sunfire SL Coupe
Shown: 2004 Pontiac Sunfire SL Coupe. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Newest year: 2005
  • Gas
  • Small cars

2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire MPG & Fuel Cost

6 model years · 21–27 MPG combined

26 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
City
32 MPG
Highway
Annual fuel cost · Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD
$2,510

15,000 mi/yr · regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026)

Cheaper to fuel than 9 of 10 small car configurations, MY2005. Ranked against all rated configurations, not sales-weighted.

2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire at a glance

The 2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire covers 6 model years in the EPA database (21 configurations in all), rated 21–27 MPG combined. The newest model year, 2005, costs about $2,510 a year to fuel for its most efficient version, the Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD (26 MPG), at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026). EPA changed the ratings in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The best combined rating in the generation, 27 MPG, was reached in 2004.

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire by model year

2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire: EPA combined rating and yearly fuel cost for each model year
Model yearPowertrainsCombined$/yrEPA ratings
2005 Gas 25–26 MPG $2,510–$2,610 Ratings changed
2004 Gas 25–27 MPG $2,420–$2,610 Ratings changed
2003 Gas 25 MPG $2,610 Ratings changed
2002 Gas 21–25 MPG $2,610–$3,110 Ratings changed
2001 Gas 21–24 MPG $2,720–$3,110 Ratings changed
2000 Gas 22–24 MPG $2,720–$2,970 First year

What the 2005 Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD costs to drive

Per month

$209

$2,510 a year ÷ 12

Per 25 miles

$4.18

Per 100 miles

$16.73

Five years

$12,550

5 × the yearly cost, prices held at today's level

vs the small car median

$1,140less a year

Class median $3,650 a year, MY2005

Based on 15,000 miles a year and regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).

2005 Pontiac Sunfire MPG

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2004: The most efficient configuration moves from 27 to 26 MPG, down 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,420 to $2,510, $90 more.

Gas · 2.2L
Combined
25–26 MPG
Per year
$2,510–$2,610

Gas configurations (2)

2005 Pontiac Sunfire gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 23 32 26 $2,510
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 31 25 $2,610

2004 Pontiac Sunfire MPG

25–27 MPG · $2,420–$2,610/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2003: The most efficient configuration moves from 25 to 27 MPG, up 2. Its annual cost goes from $2,610 to $2,420, $190 less.

Gas · 2.2L
Combined
25–27 MPG
Per year
$2,420–$2,610

Gas configurations (2)

2004 Pontiac Sunfire gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 23 33 27 $2,420
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 31 25 $2,610

2003 Pontiac Sunfire MPG

25 MPG · $2,610/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2002: The most efficient configuration stays at 25 MPG. Its annual cost stays at $2,610.

Gas · 2.2L
Combined
25 MPG
Per year
$2,610

Gas configurations (2)

2003 Pontiac Sunfire gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd (Most efficient) 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 25 $2,610
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 22 30 25 $2,610

2002 Pontiac Sunfire MPG

21–25 MPG · $2,610–$3,110/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2001: The most efficient configuration moves from 24 to 25 MPG, up 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,720 to $2,610, $110 less.

Gas · 2.2L, 2.4L
Combined
21–25 MPG
Per year
$2,610–$3,110

Gas configurations (5)

2002 Pontiac Sunfire gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 22 30 25 $2,610
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 24 $2,720
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 24 $2,720
Sunfire 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.4L 4-cyl FWD 19 29 23 $2,840
Sunfire 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.4L 4-cyl FWD 18 26 21 $3,110

2001 Pontiac Sunfire MPG

21–24 MPG · $2,720–$3,110/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2000: The most efficient configuration stays at 24 MPG. Its annual cost stays at $2,720.

Gas · 2.2L, 2.4L
Combined
21–24 MPG
Per year
$2,720–$3,110

Gas configurations (5)

2001 Pontiac Sunfire gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd (Most efficient) 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 29 24 $2,720
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 3-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 20 27 23 $2,840
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 20 30 23 $2,840
Sunfire 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.4L 4-cyl FWD 19 29 23 $2,840
Sunfire 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.4L 4-cyl FWD 18 26 21 $3,110

2000 Pontiac Sunfire MPG

22–24 MPG · $2,720–$2,970/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Gas · 2.2L, 2.4L
Combined
22–24 MPG
Per year
$2,720–$2,970

Gas configurations (5)

2000 Pontiac Sunfire gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 21 31 24 $2,720
Sunfire 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.4L 4-cyl FWD 20 30 24 $2,720
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 20 29 23 $2,840
Sunfire 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.4L 4-cyl FWD 19 28 23 $2,840
Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 3-spd 2.2L 4-cyl FWD 20 26 22 $2,970

Fuel cost by state

Yearly cost of the Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD: $3,420 in California and $2,190 in Texas, a $1,230 difference.

Gasoline prices: California: California state average; Washington: Washington state average; New York: New York state average; Florida: Florida state average; Texas: Texas state average (Sep 2026).
Fuel cost in every state

Similar cars

Closest combined MPG among MY2005 small car models.

EPA ratings: fueleconomy.gov file of Sep 29, 2026 · Prices: EIA regular gasoline, U.S. average, Sep 2026 ($4.36/gal) · 15,000 mi/yr, 55% city / 45% highway · How we calculate

Generations

  • 2000-2005 (1995)

Frequently asked questions

What gas mileage does the 2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire get?

EPA rates the 2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire at 21–27 MPG combined across 21 configurations and 6 model years. The most efficient version, the 2004 Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD, is rated 27 MPG (23 city, 33 highway).

Which years had the best MPG in the 2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire?

The Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD reached the generation's best combined rating, 27 MPG, in 2004. The lowest top rating, 24 MPG, was in 2000 and 2001.

Did EPA ratings change during the 2000-2005 Pontiac Sunfire?

Yes. Ratings changed in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire per year?

Driving 15,000 miles a year at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), the Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,510 a year. Across all 2 configurations the cost runs $2,510–$2,610 a year. That is a $100 difference between the cheapest and the costliest configuration.

How much does it cost to drive a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire 100 miles?

About $16.73 per 100 miles for the Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), and between $16.73 and $17.40 across all configurations. That is the annual cost over 15,000 miles divided by 150.

Is the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire more efficient in the city or on the highway?

The Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD is rated 23 city and 32 highway MPG, so it is more efficient on the highway, by 9 MPG.

How does the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire compare with other small car configurations?

The Sunfire 2.2L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,510 a year to fuel, $1,140 less than the class median of $3,650, and less than 9 of 10 small car configurations. The comparison covers all 370 rated small car configurations for MY2005, not weighted by sales.

Is the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire different from the 2004 model?

The most efficient configuration moves from 27 to 26 MPG, down 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,420 to $2,510, $90 more. EPA lists 2 configurations for 2005 against 2 configurations for 2004. See the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire for that year.