Fuel tank capacity
17.1gal · 65 L
The 1996 Buick Regal has a fuel tank capacity of 17.1 gallons (65 liters) on every trim.
A full tank is good for roughly 445–462 highway miles or 291–308 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.
17.1 gal · Smaller than 64% of 1996 models we list.
What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table
All 6 trims
MPG and range are city / highway.
| Trim | Engine | Drive | Tank | MPG city / hwy | Range city / hwy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom 2dr Coupe 3.1L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 308 / 445 mi | 3.1L 6cyl 4A | FWD | 17.1 gal65 L | 18 / 26 | 308 / 445 mi | |
| Custom 4dr Sedan 3.1L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 308 / 445 mi | 3.1L 6cyl 4A | FWD | 17.1 gal65 L | 18 / 26 | 308 / 445 mi | |
| Gran Sport 2dr Coupe 3.8L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 27Range 291 / 462 mi | 3.8L 6cyl 4A | FWD | 17.1 gal65 L | 17 / 27 | 291 / 462 mi | |
| Gran Sport 4dr Sedan 3.8L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 27Range 291 / 462 mi | 3.8L 6cyl 4A | FWD | 17.1 gal65 L | 17 / 27 | 291 / 462 mi | |
| Limited 4dr Sedan 3.8L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 27Range 291 / 462 mi | 3.8L 6cyl 4A | FWD | 17.1 gal65 L | 17 / 27 | 291 / 462 mi | |
| Olympic Gold 4dr Sedan 3.8L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 27Range 291 / 462 mi | 3.8L 6cyl 4A | FWD | 17.1 gal65 L | 17 / 27 | 291 / 462 mi | |
| No trim matches all of these filters. | ||||||
Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.
Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 21 MPG, a full 17.1-gallon tank covers about 359 miles.
| Gauge | Gallons | Highway miles | City miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 17.1 | 462 | 291 |
| 3/4 | 12.8 | 346 | 218 |
| 1/2 | 8.6 | 231 | 145 |
| 1/4 | 4.3 | 115 | 73 |
| 1/8 | 2.1 | 58 | 36 |
Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 714 gallons, roughly 42 full tanks.
In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 23.4 MPG in the Regal (12 drivers), about 400 miles on a full 17.1-gallon tank.
Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.
$73.02 to fill the 17.1-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.
| Tank | Fuel | US avg / gal | From empty | From 1/4 tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17.1 gal | Regular | $4.27 | $73.02 | $54.76 |
| Region | Regular / gal | Fill from empty |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast | $4.02 | $68.74 |
| Midwest | $4.27 | $73.02 |
| Gulf CoastLowest | $3.70 | $63.27 |
| Rocky Mountain | $4.46 | $76.27 |
| West Coast | $5.42 | $92.68 |
| CaliforniaHighest | $5.89 | $100.72 |
Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.
Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.
The tank changed for 1996: 17.1 gal, up from 16.5 gal on the 1995 Regal.
| Model year | Tank | Longest highway range |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Regal | 17.5 gal | 490 mi |
| 2000 Regal | 17.5 gal | 473 mi |
| 1999 Regal | 17.5 gal | 473 mi |
| 1998 Regal | 17.0 gal | 459 mi |
| 1997 Regal | 17.0 gal | 459 mi |
| 1996 Regal | 17.1 gal | 462 mi |
| 1995 Regal | 16.5 gal | 429 mi |
| 1994 Regal | 16.5 gal | 429 mi |
| 1993 Regal | 16.5 gal | 446 mi |
| 1992 Regal | 16.5 gal | 429 mi |
| 1991 Regal | 16.5 gal | 462 mi |
At 17.1 gallons, the Regal's largest tank ranks second of the seven 1996 sedans compared here. The Nissan Maxima carries the most (18.5 gal) and the Mercury Sable the least (16.0 gal).
| 1996 model | Tank | Longest highway range |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Maxima | 18.5 gal | 481 mi |
| Buick Regal | 17.1 gal | 462 mi |
| Pontiac Grand Prix | 17.1 gal | 445 mi |
| Oldsmobile Ciera | 16.5 gal | 479 mi |
| Chevrolet Lumina | 16.5 gal | 429 mi |
| Ford Taurus | 16.0 gal | 416 mi |
| Mercury Sable | 16.0 gal | 416 mi |
Other 1996 sedans of a similar size, one model per brand.
NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1996 Buick Regal, out of 3 recalls in total. A recall applies only to the vehicles named in it, so check your VIN.
A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Risk: This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
The 1996 Buick Regal holds 17.1 gallons (65 liters) on every trim we list.
The 1996 Buick Regal tank holds 65 liters, or 17.1 gallons in US gallons.
About 445–462 miles on the highway and 291–308 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.
About 115 highway miles or 73 in town from the 17.1-gallon tank, which has roughly 4.3 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.
Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 23.4 MPG in the 1996 Buick Regal (12 drivers), which works out to about 400 miles on a full 17.1-gallon tank.
Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.
At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 17.1-gallon tank from empty costs $73.02. It ranges from $63.27 in the Gulf Coast to $100.72 in California.
About 106 pounds for the 17.1-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.
No, they match: both top out at 17.1 gallons in 1996.
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1996 Buick Regal: 96V116000 (fuel injection system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is affected.
Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.