1970-1978 Datsun 240Z/260Z/280Z — MPG & Fuel Facts NO OFFICIAL EPA RATING

The EPA's public fuel-economy dataset only goes back to 1984 — the 1970-1978 Datsun 240Z/260Z/280Z predates it, so there is no government-rated MPG number for this car anywhere, including here.

Estimated 16–30 MPG combined.

Car and Driver's original 1970 240Z test logged 19-21 mpg on premium fuel, the EPA's own 1975 Gas Mileage Guide rated the federally fuel-injected 280Z at 16 city/25 highway, and Classic & Sports Car's buyer's guide cites a broader 18-30 mpg spec range across the whole run - reflecting how far the light, carbureted 240Z and the heavier, smog-era fuel-injected 280Z diverge.

This is our estimate, not an EPA rating — built from the period road tests, marque-specialist guides and corroborated owner reports cited below, hedged where sources vary. Treat it as a ballpark for planning, not a spec to rely on.

The Z-car grew across this run: a 2.4L single-overhead-cam six with twin SU carburetors in the 240Z (1970-73), a 2.6L six in the one-year-only U.S. 260Z (1974-75), and a 2.8L six with Bosch/Nissan EFI in the 280Z (1975-78) added largely to meet tightening emissions rules, mated to 4- or 5-speed manuals or a 3-speed automatic.

Car and Driver's June 1970 road test of a 240Z gives an exact, checkable number in its specifications box: 'Fuel mileage: 19-21 mpg on premium fuel,' with a 302-334 mile range quoted on the 15.9-gallon tank. This is the only period test we could verify firsthand with a precise figure rather than a paraphrase.

The EPA/FEA's 1975 Gas Mileage Guide for New Car Buyers (the first year the agency tested for fuel economy) lists the fuel-injected 1975 Datsun 280Z (168 cu in / 2.8L inline six) at 16 mpg city / 25 mpg highway - a real government-tested figure, though for the heaviest, most emissions-compliant version of the car.

Classic & Sports Car's 240Z/260Z buyer's guide states a spec-sheet range of 18-30 mpg for the run, and separately cites 19-26 mpg for the U.S.-only 260Z 2+2. Owner forums (ZCar Forum, HybridZ) generally describe high-teens to mid-20s mpg in mixed use, consistent with these ranges.

Sources: Car and Driver, "Datsun 240Z" road test, June 1970 (PDF scan) · EPA/FEA, 1975 Gas Mileage Guide for New Car Buyers (2nd ed., rev. Jan 1976), via Internet Archive · Classic & Sports Car, "Datsun 240Z/260Z buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look for"

All classics Search Datsun 240Z/260Z/280Z on FuelFacts (in case a later model year is in our 1984+ EPA data)