The Chevrolet Tracker does 20.7 mpg combined (19.3 city, 22.4 highway), which works out to about $1,855 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl does 23 mpg while 2.5L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $463 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Tracker engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Tracker ranges from 23 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $463 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 21.7 / 25.3 | 1998–2000 | $1,670 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 20 / 23.7 | 2001–2003 | $1,745 | |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 / 19.3 | 2001–2004 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Tracker burns a gallon every 20.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 580 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.155 |
| Fuel per year | $1,855 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,275 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$361 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,050 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Tracker gives up 3.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.4 out there against 19.3 in town, a 16% drop worth $276 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 | 19.3 mpg | $1,990 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.4 mpg | $1,714 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.1 mpg (16%) | Typical for its type |
How the Tracker changed over the years
The Tracker peaked in 2000 at 24 mpg (22 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 18 — 6 mpg apart, or $533 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2004 car does 18. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 17 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2003 | 18.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 18.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2001 | 18.5 / 21 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2000 | 22 / 26 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1999 | 22 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1998 | 21 / 24 | 1 | $1,745 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 10 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Tracker — 3 engines across 1998–2004. 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 $3,050. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Tracker get?
20.7 mpg combined on average — 19.3 in the city and 22.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1998–2004.
How much does a Chevrolet Tracker cost in fuel per year?
About $1,855 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,275 over five years, or 0.155 dollars a mile.
Which Tracker engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 23 mpg, against 18 for the 2.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $463 a year.
Is the Tracker 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 Tracker 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 Tracker is $3,050 against the $1,855 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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