The Dodge Caravan does 19.9 mpg combined (17.5 city, 23.6 highway), which works out to about $1,930 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.2L 4-cyl does 22.3 mpg while 3.8L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $411 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Dodge Caravan engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Dodge Caravan ranges from 22.3 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $411 a year across 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 19.8 / 26 | 1984–1987 | $1,722 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 18.3 / 25.1 | 1988–1995 | $1,837 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 17.6 / 23.8 | 1996–2007 | $1,920 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2003–2008 | $1,949 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.9 / 21.9 | 1987–2000 | $2,032 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 15.5 / 22 | 2001–2002 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Dodge Caravan burns a gallon every 19.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 603 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.161 |
| Fuel per year | $1,930 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,650 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$436 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,123 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Dodge Caravan gives up 6.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.6 out there against 17.5 in town, a 35% drop worth $567 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 | 17.5 mpg | $2,194 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.6 mpg | $1,627 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.1 mpg (35%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Caravan changed over the years
The Caravan peaked in 1985 at 23 mpg (21 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2001 at 18.5 — 4.5 mpg apart, or $406 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2008 car does 19. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2006 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2005 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2003 | 17.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2002 | 16 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1999 | 17.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1998 | 17.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1997 | 17.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1996 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1995 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1994 | 17.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1993 | 17.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1992 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1991 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1990 | 18 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1989 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1988 | 17 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1987 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1986 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1985 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1984 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 46 EPA ratings of the Dodge Caravan — 6 engines across 1984–2008. 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 $3,123. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Dodge Caravan get?
19.9 mpg combined on average — 17.5 in the city and 23.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2008.
How much does a Dodge Caravan cost in fuel per year?
About $1,930 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,650 over five years, or 0.161 dollars a mile.
Which Caravan engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 22.3 mpg, against 18 for the 3.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $411 a year.
Is the Caravan 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 Caravan figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Dodge Caravan is $3,123 against the $1,930 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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