Ford Sierra — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
The iconic rear-wheel-drive 80s family car. Famous aerodynamic styling and robust mechanicals.
The Ford Sierra was a revolution in automotive design when launched, replacing the boxy Cortina with a aerodynamic 'jellymould' shape. It was a massive sales success in the UK.
Engine choices spanned basic Pintos and CVHs to the later 1.8-litre turbodiesel. The rear-wheel-drive layout provides classic driving dynamics but adds weight compared to front-wheel-drive rivals.
Real-world fuel economy is modest by modern standards, with the petrol engines returning around 28 MPG and the turbodiesel models offering around 38-40 MPG on longer journeys.
TL;DR
28 MPG
Real-world petrol
38 MPG
Real-world diesel
60L
Tank capacity
£82.08
Full tank (petrol)
22.2p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Ford Sierra achieves an estimated 28 MPG (petrol) and 38 MPG (diesel) in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 60-litre tank completely costs approximately £82.08 (petrol) or £85.26 (diesel) at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
28
Real-world MPG
Petrol
32.5
Official WLTP
Petrol
38
Real-world MPG
Diesel
45.6
Official WLTP
Diesel
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £1111 | £850 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £1644 | £1258 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £2221 | £1700 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £3332 | £2550 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £4442 | £3400 |
| Full tank (60L) | £82.08 | £85.26 |
| Cost per mile | 22.2p | 17.0p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the Sierra compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your Sierra
Ensure the carburetor or early injection system is tuned correctly for clean emissions.
Keep the rear differential fluid fresh to minimize mechanical friction losses.
Accelerate progressively to avoid dumping excess fuel through the accelerator pump.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Ford Sierra achieving ~28 MPG real-world, if you fill 48 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£4.80
Gross saving on fuel
£0.67
Cost of 3-mile detour
£4.13
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 22 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Ford Sierra?
The Ford Sierra achieves approximately 28 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 32.5 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around 38 MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Ford Sierra?
The Ford Sierra has a fuel tank of 60 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £82.08. Diesel costs approximately £85.26 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Ford Sierra?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Ford Sierra costs approximately £1644 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £2221. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Ford Sierra?
In a Ford Sierra doing ~28 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 48-litre fill nets approximately £4.13 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 22 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Ford Sierra cost per mile in fuel?
The Ford Sierra costs approximately 22.2p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £6.66 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Ford Sierra?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Ford Sierra is 32.5 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
Find the cheapest fuel for your Sierra
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