The Alfa Romeo Spider does 20.8 mpg combined (18.3 city, 25.3 highway), which works out to about $1,846 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 21.5 mpg while 4.7L 8-cyl does 13 — a difference of $1,168 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Alfa Romeo Spider engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Alfa Romeo Spider ranges from 21.5 down to 13 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,168 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 19 / 26.1 | 1984–1994 | $1,786 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 11 / 16 | 2009–2009 | $2,954 |
What that actually costs
The Alfa Romeo Spider burns a gallon every 20.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 577 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.154 |
| Fuel per year | $1,846 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,230 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$352 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,417 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Alfa Romeo Spider gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.3 out there against 18.3 in town, a 38% drop worth $580 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.3 mpg | $2,098 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.3 mpg | $1,518 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (38%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Spider changed over the years
The Spider peaked in 1990 at 23 mpg (20 city, 28 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 13 — 10 mpg apart, or $1,284 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2009 car does 13. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1994 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1993 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1992 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1991 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1990 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1989 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1988 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1987 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1986 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1985 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1984 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 12 EPA ratings of the Alfa Romeo Spider — 2 engines across 1984–2009. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,417. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Alfa Romeo Spider get?
20.8 mpg combined on average — 18.3 in the city and 25.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2009.
How much does a Alfa Romeo Spider cost in fuel per year?
About $1,846 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,230 over five years, or 0.154 dollars a mile.
Which Spider engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 21.5 mpg, against 13 for the 4.7L 8-cyl — a difference of about $1,168 a year.
Is the Spider good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Spider figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Alfa Romeo Spider is $3,417 against the $1,846 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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