The Chevrolet Cavalier does 23.9 mpg combined (20.7 city, 29.8 highway), which works out to about $1,607 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 25.8 mpg while 2.8L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $432 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Cavalier engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Cavalier ranges from 25.8 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $432 a year across 4 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 | 22.7 / 31.8 | 1984–1989 | $1,488 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 21.8 / 31.9 | 1990–2005 | $1,506 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 18 / 25.6 | 1990–1994 | $1,882 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 17.8 / 24.4 | 1985–1989 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Cavalier burns a gallon every 23.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 502 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.134 |
| Fuel per year | $1,607 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,035 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$113 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,639 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Cavalier gives up 9.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 29.8 out there against 20.7 in town, a 44% drop worth $566 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 | 20.7 mpg | $1,855 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29.8 mpg | $1,289 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.1 mpg (44%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Cavalier changed over the years
The Cavalier peaked in 2004 at 27 mpg (23 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1986 at 22 — 5 mpg apart, or $323 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2005 car does 26. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 23 / 33 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2004 | 23 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2003 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2002 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2001 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2000 | 21 / 31 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1999 | 21 / 31 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1998 | 21 / 31 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1997 | 22 / 33 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1996 | 22 / 33 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1995 | 22 / 33 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1994 | 20 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1993 | 20 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 1992 | 20 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 1991 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1990 | 20 / 29 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1989 | 20.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1988 | 20 / 30 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 1987 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1986 | 20 / 26 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1985 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1984 | 23 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 32 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Cavalier — 4 engines across 1984–2005. 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 $2,639. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Cavalier get?
23.9 mpg combined on average — 20.7 in the city and 29.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2005.
How much does a Chevrolet Cavalier cost in fuel per year?
About $1,607 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,035 over five years, or 0.134 dollars a mile.
Which Cavalier engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 25.8 mpg, against 20 for the 2.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $432 a year.
Is the Cavalier 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 Cavalier figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet Cavalier is $2,639 against the $1,607 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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