The Chevrolet Metro does 36.5 mpg combined (33.6 city, 40.6 highway), which works out to about $1,052 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1L 3-cyl Hybrid does 43.5 mpg while 1.3L 4-cyl does 33 — a difference of $281 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Metro engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Metro ranges from 43.5 down to 33 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $281 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1L 3-cyl Hybrid | 40 / 47.5 | 1988–1998 | $883 | |
| 1L 3-cyl | 33 / 41.5 | 1999–2000 | $1,052 | |
| 1.3L 4-cyl | 30.8 / 36.8 | 1998–2001 | $1,164 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Metro burns a gallon every 36.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 329 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.088 |
| Fuel per year | $1,052 |
| Fuel over five years | $5,260 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$442 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,744 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Metro gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 40.6 out there against 33.6 in town, a 21% drop worth $197 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 | 33.6 mpg | $1,143 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 40.6 mpg | $946 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (21%) | Typical for its type |
How the Metro changed over the years
The Metro peaked in 1988 at 47 mpg (44 city, 51 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2001 at 28 — 19 mpg apart, or $554 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2001 car does 28. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2000 | 31.5 / 39.5 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 1999 | 33.5 / 40.5 | 2 | $1,067 | |
| 1998 | 34.5 / 41.5 | 2 | $1,024 | |
| 1988 | 44 / 51 | 1 | $817 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 8 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Metro — 3 engines across 1988–2001. 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 $1,744. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Metro get?
36.5 mpg combined on average — 33.6 in the city and 40.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1988–2001.
How much does a Chevrolet Metro cost in fuel per year?
About $1,052 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $5,260 over five years, or 0.088 dollars a mile.
Which Metro engine is the most economical?
The 1L 3-cyl Hybrid at 43.5 mpg, against 33 for the 1.3L 4-cyl — a difference of about $281 a year.
Is the Metro good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Metro 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 Metro is $1,744 against the $1,052 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 47 and 28 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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