FORCAR
Go Pro
CHARGER

Dodge Charger MPG

Dodge Charger gas mileage averages 21.4 mpg combined — about $1,794 a year in fuel at today's prices, or $8,970 over five years. Below: every engine compared, because the gap between versions is usually wider than the gap between models.

EPA fueleconomy.gov · 6 engines · 1984–2026 · Updated Sep 19, 2026
Quick answer

The Dodge Charger does 21.4 mpg combined (18 city, 27.4 highway), which works out to about $1,794 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 30 mpg while 5.7L 8-cyl does 18.8 — a difference of $763 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.

Every Dodge Charger engine, compared

Gas mileage on the Dodge Charger ranges from 30 down to 18.8 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $763 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.

FIG.01·Dodge Charger gas mileage by engine
EngineCombinedCity / HighwayYearsFuel per year
1.6L 4-cyl3026 / 35.31984–1986$1,280
2.2L 4-cyl2622 / 321987–1987$1,477
3.6L 6-cyl22.818.9 / 29.82011–2023$1,684
2.7L 6-cyl2118 / 262006–2010$1,829
3L 6-cyl2017 / 262026–2026$1,920
5.7L 8-cyl18.815.8 / 24.62006–2023$2,043
ROWS 6·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

What that actually costs

The Dodge Charger burns a gallon every 21.4 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 561 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.

FIG.02·Dodge Charger fuel cost
MeasureValue
Cost per mile$0.150
Fuel per year$1,794
Fuel over five years$8,970
Against other V6 cars−$136 a year
EPA's own estimate$3,117 a year
ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA ratings

City or highway — who is this car for

The Dodge Charger gives up 9.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.4 out there against 18 in town, a 52% drop worth $732 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.

FIG.03·Dodge Charger city versus highway
MeasureValueReading
City18 mpg$2,133 a year if you only drive in town
Highway27.4 mpg$1,401 a year if you mostly commute
Gap+9.4 mpg (52%)Wide — this car dislikes traffic
ROWS 3·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

How the Charger changed over the years

The Charger peaked in 1986 at 30 mpg (26 city, 35 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2008 at 19.5 — 10.5 mpg apart, or $689 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 20. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.

FIG.04·Dodge Charger gas mileage by model year
Model yearCombinedCity / HighwayEngines offeredFuel per year
20262017 / 261$1,920
20232117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20222117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20212117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20202117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20192117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20182117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20172117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20162117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20152117.5 / 27.52$1,829
201420.517 / 272$1,873
20132117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20122117.5 / 27.52$1,829
20112017 / 262$1,920
20102017 / 25.52$1,920
20092017 / 25.52$1,920
200819.516.5 / 24.52$1,969
200719.516.5 / 24.52$1,969
200619.516.5 / 24.52$1,969
19872622 / 321$1,477
19863026 / 351$1,280
19853026 / 361$1,280
19843026 / 351$1,280
ROWS 23·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar
Upgrade to Pro

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
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How we count

This page rests on 41 EPA ratings of the Dodge Charger — 6 engines across 1984–2026. 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 $3,117. Full method.

Everything on the Dodge Charger
Recalls133 campaignsReliability4.0/5Common problems5,778 complaintsCheck a VINAgainst this exact buildDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space25 cu ftUsed prices2,542 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1983–2026

Frequently asked questions

What mpg does the Dodge Charger get?

21.4 mpg combined on average — 18 in the city and 27.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.

How much does a Dodge Charger cost in fuel per year?

About $1,794 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,970 over five years, or 0.150 dollars a mile.

Which Charger engine is the most economical?

The 1.6L 4-cyl at 30 mpg, against 18.8 for the 5.7L 8-cyl — a difference of about $763 a year.

Is the Charger good on fuel compared with similar cars?

Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.

Are these real-world Charger 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 Charger is $3,117 against the $1,794 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 30 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.

Gas mileage ratings from EPA fueleconomy.gov, unadjusted. Running cost computed by ForCar at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Last updated Sep 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →