The Chrysler Daytona does 23.3 mpg combined (19.7 city, 29 highway), which works out to about $1,648 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chrysler Daytona engine, compared
The Chrysler Daytona was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 19.7 / 29 | 1984–1987 | $1,648 |
What that actually costs
The Chrysler Daytona burns a gallon every 23.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 515 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.137 |
| Fuel per year | $1,648 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,240 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$154 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,917 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chrysler Daytona gives up 9.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 29 out there against 19.7 in town, a 47% drop worth $625 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 | 19.7 mpg | $1,949 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29 mpg | $1,324 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.3 mpg (47%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Daytona changed over the years
The Daytona peaked in 1986 at 26 mpg (22 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1987 at 21 — 5 mpg apart, or $352 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1987 car does 21.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1986 | 22 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1984 | 19 / 29 | 1 | $1,670 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Chrysler Daytona — 1 engine across 1984–1987. 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 $2,917. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chrysler Daytona get?
23.3 mpg combined on average — 19.7 in the city and 29 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1987.
How much does a Chrysler Daytona cost in fuel per year?
About $1,648 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,240 over five years, or 0.137 dollars a mile.
Which Daytona engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 23.3 mpg.
Is the Daytona 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 Daytona figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chrysler Daytona is $2,917 against the $1,648 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.