The Chrysler LASER does 24.3 mpg combined (20.7 city, 30.3 highway), which works out to about $1,580 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 LASER engine, compared
The Chrysler LASER 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 | 20.7 / 30.3 | 1984–1986 | $1,580 |
What that actually costs
The Chrysler LASER burns a gallon every 24.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 494 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.132 |
| Fuel per year | $1,580 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,900 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$86 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,533 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chrysler LASER gives up 9.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30.3 out there against 20.7 in town, a 46% drop worth $588 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 | 30.3 mpg | $1,267 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.6 mpg (46%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the LASER changed over the years
The LASER peaked in 1986 at 26 mpg (22 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1984 at 23 — 3 mpg apart, or $193 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1986 car does 26.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 22 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1985 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1984 | 19 / 29 | 1 | $1,670 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Chrysler LASER — 1 engine across 1984–1986. 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 $2,533. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chrysler LASER get?
24.3 mpg combined on average — 20.7 in the city and 30.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1986.
How much does a Chrysler LASER cost in fuel per year?
About $1,580 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,900 over five years, or 0.132 dollars a mile.
Which LASER engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 24.3 mpg.
Is the LASER 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 LASER 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 LASER is $2,533 against the $1,580 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.
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