Which Buick Skylark Version Should You Buy?
Choosing between the catalogued Buick Skylark versions comes down to two distinct groups: the sixth-generation Coupe, produced from 1986 to 1991 with two versions, and the seventh-generation Coupe, produced from 1992 to 1998 with six entries. The sixth generation offers the 2.5 AT with 90 hp and the 2.8 AT with 135 hp.
Choosing between the catalogued Buick Skylark versions comes down to two distinct groups: the sixth-generation Coupe, produced from 1986 to 1991 with two versions, and the seventh-generation Coupe, produced from 1992 to 1998 with six entries. The sixth generation offers the 2.5 AT with 90 hp and the 2.8 AT with 135 hp. The seventh generation adds a 2.3 AT with 152 hp and several 3.1 AT entries producing 156, 158, or 162 hp. All documented versions use Gasoline, an Automatic transmission, and FWD. On the available numbers, the 2.3 AT has the strongest output per litre, while the 162 hp 3.1 AT provides the highest absolute power.
Buick Skylark generations: what changed?
The first generation is listed as a Cabrio with no documented versions. Its dates are internally inconsistent in the source: production starts in 1964 but stops in 1954. Because those values conflict, they cannot establish a usable production interval for comparison.
The second generation is a Coupe produced from 1961 to 1963. No versions are documented, so its engine, transmission, performance, weight, and dimensions are not measured.
The third generation is a Coupe produced from 1964 to 1972. No versions are documented. Consequently, searches for 1964, 1968, 1970, or 1972 Buick Skylark specs cannot be answered numerically from this catalog data.
The fourth generation is a Coupe produced from 1975 to 1979, with no documented versions. Engine output, performance, economy, dimensions, and weight are not measured.
The fifth generation is a Coupe produced from 1980 to 1985, with no documented versions. The data therefore identifies the body and production period but does not provide separate 1980 or 1985 engine options.
The sixth generation is a Coupe produced from 1986 to 1991 and has two documented versions: 2.5 AT and 2.8 AT. Moving from the 2.5 AT to the 2.8 AT adds 300 cc, 45 hp, and 27 Nm. Both have a 3-speed Automatic transmission and FWD.
The seventh generation is a Coupe produced from 1992 to 1998 and contains six catalog entries: one 2.3 AT and five 3.1 AT entries. Compared with the sixth generation, its documented power range rises from 90–135 hp to 152–162 hp. The seventh-generation 2.3 AT retains a 3-speed Automatic, while every listed 3.1 AT has a 4-speed Automatic.
Buick Skylark engine options and specs
Repeated 3.1 AT entries are distinguished below by power and, where necessary, kerb weight, tank capacity, or engine displacement.
| Generation and exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth-generation 2.5 AT | 90 hp | 170 Nm | 2500 cc | 92 | 4, Inline | not measured | 3-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Sixth-generation 2.8 AT | 135 hp | 197 Nm | 2800 cc | 92 | 6, V-shaped | not measured | 3-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Seventh-generation 2.3 AT | 152 hp | 196 Nm | 2260 cc | 80 | 4, Inline | No | 3-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Seventh-generation 3.1 AT, 156 hp | 156 hp | 251 Nm | 3125 cc | 92 | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Seventh-generation 3.1 AT, 158 hp, 1339 kg, 52 L | 158 hp | 251 Nm | 3136 cc | 80 | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Seventh-generation 3.1 AT, 158 hp, 1345 kg, 57 L | 158 hp | 251 Nm | 3136 cc | 80 | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Seventh-generation 3.1 AT, 162 hp, 1330 kg, 52 L | 162 hp | 251 Nm | 3136 cc | 95 | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Seventh-generation 3.1 AT, 162 hp, 1330 kg, 57 L | 162 hp | 251 Nm | 3136 cc | 95 | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
The sixth-generation 2.5 AT develops 36.0 hp per litre, while the 2.8 AT produces about 48.2 hp per litre. The seventh-generation 2.3 AT reaches about 67.3 hp per litre, the best result among the documented engines. The 3125 cc 3.1 AT with 156 hp produces about 49.9 hp per litre; the 3136 cc variants deliver about 50.4 hp per litre at 158 hp and about 51.7 hp per litre at 162 hp.
Torque separates the seventh-generation choices differently. The 2.3 AT supplies 196 Nm, whereas every documented 3.1 AT supplies 251 Nm, a difference of 55 Nm. Choosing a 162 hp 3.1 AT instead of a 158 hp 3.1 AT adds 4 hp but no extra measured torque.
Buick Skylark performance and fuel economy
The seventh-generation 3.1 AT with 156 hp is the only version with both acceleration and maximum-speed figures: 0–100 km/h takes 11.5 seconds, and top speed is 175 km/h. Its city, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured.
The seventh-generation 2.3 AT has a measured top speed of 190 km/h, which is 15 km/h above the documented 175 km/h figure of the 156 hp 3.1 AT. Its 0–100 km/h time and all fuel-consumption figures are not measured.
For the sixth-generation 2.5 AT and 2.8 AT, 0–100 km/h acceleration, top speed, and city, highway, and combined consumption are not measured. The same performance and economy values are not measured for the 158 hp and 162 hp 3.1 AT entries. No mpg comparison can therefore be made from the supplied figures, and the listed fuel labels must not be treated as consumption measurements.
Buick Skylark weight, ground clearance, tank and dimensions
Kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, tank capacity, and wheel sizes for both sixth-generation versions are not measured.
The seventh-generation 2.3 AT weighs 1337 kg, has 140 mm of ground clearance, and carries a 57 L tank. Wheel sizes and gross weight are not measured. At about 8.8 kg per horsepower, it has a better documented weight-to-power ratio than any 156 hp or 158 hp entry.
The seventh-generation 3.1 AT with 156 hp weighs 1355 kg and has a gross weight of 1920 kg. It carries a 57 L tank, while ground clearance and wheel sizes are not measured. Its kerb-weight-to-power figure is about 8.7 kg per horsepower.
The 158 hp 3.1 AT with a 1339 kg kerb weight has 140 mm of clearance and a 52 L tank, returning about 8.5 kg per horsepower. The other 158 hp 3.1 AT weighs 1345 kg, has 160 mm of clearance and a 57 L tank, and also rounds to about 8.5 kg per horsepower. It provides 20 mm more clearance and 5 L more tank capacity than the 1339 kg entry, at the cost of 6 kg of additional kerb weight.
Both 162 hp 3.1 AT entries weigh 1330 kg and provide 140 mm of clearance. Their weight-to-power figure is about 8.2 kg per horsepower, the best documented result. One has a 52 L tank and the other a 57 L tank, so the latter adds 5 L of capacity without a recorded weight penalty. Gross weight and wheel sizes are not measured for either version.
Overall exterior length, width, height, and wheelbase are not measured for any Buick Skylark generation in this data. Wheel sizes are likewise not measured for every documented version.
Which Buick Skylark version should you choose?
Choose the seventh-generation 2.3 AT if output per litre and the highest measured top speed matter most. Its 152 hp from 2260 cc equals about 67.3 hp per litre, and its measured 190 km/h top speed is the highest available. It also weighs 1337 kg, only 7 kg more than the lightest documented cars.
Choose a 162 hp 3.1 AT for the strongest overall power-to-weight result. At 1330 kg and 162 hp, both entries deliver about 8.2 kg per horsepower. Between them, the 57 L version is preferable on catalog specifications because it carries 5 L more fuel while retaining the same power, torque, kerb weight, clearance, gearbox, and drive.
Choose the 158 hp 3.1 AT with 1345 kg and a 57 L tank when ground clearance is the deciding factor. Its 160 mm figure is 20 mm higher than the other measured seventh-generation entries. The trade-off against the 162 hp, 57 L choice is 4 hp and 15 kg, while torque remains 251 Nm.
The 156 hp 3.1 AT is the choice with the most complete recorded performance data, not the strongest numerical specification. It is the only entry with measured 0–100 km/h acceleration, top speed, kerb weight, and gross weight together. However, it weighs 25 kg more and produces 6 hp less than either 162 hp entry.
Within the sixth generation, the 2.8 AT is the clearer specification-led choice. Compared with the 2.5 AT, it provides 45 hp and 27 Nm more from an additional 300 cc, while retaining the same 3-speed Automatic transmission and FWD. Weight, performance, and economy are not measured, so the data cannot show the practical cost of that extra output.
For a buyer comparing every documented Buick Skylark, the seventh-generation 162 hp 3.1 AT with the 57 L tank offers the strongest balance of absolute power, torque, recorded kerb weight, and tank capacity. The 2.3 AT is the alternative for better power per litre and the highest measured top speed, while the 158 hp 3.1 AT with 160 mm clearance is the specialist choice when additional ground clearance matters most.