The Daihatsu Rocky does 20.3 mpg combined (20 city, 21.3 highway), which works out to about $1,892 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 Daihatsu Rocky engine, compared
The Daihatsu Rocky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 20 / 21.3 | 1990–1992 | $1,892 |
What that actually costs
The Daihatsu Rocky burns a gallon every 20.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 591 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 |
| Fuel per year | $1,892 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,460 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$398 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,050 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Daihatsu Rocky gives up 1.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.3 out there against 20 in town, a 7% drop worth $117 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 mpg | $1,920 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.3 mpg | $1,803 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +1.3 mpg (7%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Rocky changed over the years
The Rocky peaked in 1990 at 21 mpg (20 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1992 at 20 — 1 mpg apart, or $91 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1992 car does 20.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 20 / 21 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1991 | 20 / 21 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1990 | 20 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 |
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 Daihatsu Rocky — 1 engine across 1990–1992. 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 Daihatsu Rocky get?
20.3 mpg combined on average — 20 in the city and 21.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1990–1992.
How much does a Daihatsu Rocky cost in fuel per year?
About $1,892 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,460 over five years, or 0.158 dollars a mile.
Which Rocky engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 20.3 mpg.
Is the Rocky 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 Rocky figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Daihatsu Rocky is $3,050 against the $1,892 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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