The Dodge RAM 50 does 21.7 mpg combined (19.9 city, 24.2 highway), which works out to about $1,770 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.3L 4-cyl does 28 mpg while 2.4L 4-cyl does 19 — a difference of $650 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Dodge RAM 50 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Dodge RAM 50 ranges from 28 down to 19 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $650 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 26 / 31 | 1984–1984 | $1,371 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 21 / 25.2 | 1985–1989 | $1,699 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 17 / 21.3 | 1990–1993 | $2,021 |
What that actually costs
The Dodge RAM 50 burns a gallon every 21.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 553 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.147 |
| Fuel per year | $1,770 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,850 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$276 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,980 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Dodge RAM 50 gives up 4.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.2 out there against 19.9 in town, a 22% drop worth $343 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 | 19.9 mpg | $1,930 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.2 mpg | $1,587 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.3 mpg (22%) | Typical for its type |
How the RAM 50 changed over the years
The RAM 50 peaked in 1984 at 28 mpg (26 city, 31 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1993 at 19 — 9 mpg apart, or $650 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1993 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1992 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1991 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1990 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1989 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1988 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1987 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1986 | 21 / 24 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1985 | 21 / 24 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1984 | 26 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 10 EPA ratings of the Dodge RAM 50 — 3 engines across 1984–1993. 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 $2,980. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Dodge RAM 50 get?
21.7 mpg combined on average — 19.9 in the city and 24.2 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1993.
How much does a Dodge RAM 50 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,770 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,850 over five years, or 0.147 dollars a mile.
Which RAM 50 engine is the most economical?
The 2.3L 4-cyl at 28 mpg, against 19 for the 2.4L 4-cyl — a difference of about $650 a year.
Is the RAM 50 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 RAM 50 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 RAM 50 is $2,980 against the $1,770 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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