Pontiac Safari

What kind of car was the Pontiac Safari?

The Pontiac Safari was a full-size station wagon sold in the United States from 1987 to 1989. It suited drivers who wanted a long-roof car with generous room for passengers and luggage. In Pontiac’s range, it carried on the traditional family-wagon role alongside the brand’s passenger cars.

The Safari name had a long association with Pontiac wagons. In this later run, the name was used for the full-size wagon, a spacious, conventional car rather than a compact utility vehicle. The model’s substantial petrol engine and its EPA fuel economy ratings reflect that large-car character.

Engines and power

The U.S. EPA figures list a 5.0-litre petrol engine. They do not give a power output, so this summary does not attach a horsepower number to it. The engine size identifies the Safari as a large-engined wagon intended for full-size motoring, rather than a small economy car.

How economical was the Pontiac Safari?

The best combined EPA fuel economy rating shown for the Safari is 18 MPG. Its lowest listed consumption is 13.1 L/100 km under the EPA procedure. Those figures express the same broad idea in different units: lower litres per 100 kilometres and higher miles per gallon mean less fuel used over a given distance.

EPA testing differs from the European WLTP and NEDC procedures and Canada’s 5-cycle test. Results from those systems are not directly interchangeable. The Safari’s figures are most useful as a U.S. EPA reference for the model; fuel use in everyday driving depends on conditions and how the car is used.

Where was it sold?

The Safari was sold in the United States, with EPA figures covering 1987–1989. The figures describe two versions, both listed with petrol fuel and a 5.0-litre engine. Its full-size wagon layout placed it in a traditional part of the American car market.