The Dodge Viper does 14.2 mpg combined (11.4 city, 20 highway), which works out to about $2,704 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 8.4L 10-cyl does 15.3 mpg while 8.3L 10-cyl does 13.3 — a difference of $377 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Dodge Viper engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Dodge Viper ranges from 15.3 down to 13.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $377 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.4L 10-cyl | 12.5 / 21.2 | 2008–2017 | $2,510 | |
| 8L 10-cyl | 10.9 / 19.6 | 1992–2002 | $2,783 | |
| 8.3L 10-cyl | 11 / 19.3 | 2003–2006 | $2,887 |
What that actually costs
The Dodge Viper burns a gallon every 14.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 845 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.225 |
| Fuel per year | $2,704 |
| Fuel over five years | $13,520 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$319 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $5,483 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Dodge Viper gives up 8.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20 out there against 11.4 in town, a 75% drop worth $1,448 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 | 11.4 mpg | $3,368 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20 mpg | $1,920 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.6 mpg (75%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Viper changed over the years
The Viper peaked in 2010 at 16 mpg (13 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2006 at 13 — 3 mpg apart, or $554 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2017 car does 14. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2016 | 12 / 21 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2015 | 12 / 21 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2010 | 13 / 22 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2009 | 13 / 22 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2008 | 13 / 22 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2006 | 11 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2005 | 11 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2004 | 11 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2003 | 11 / 20 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2002 | 10 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2001 | 10 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2000 | 11 / 19 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1999 | 10 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1998 | 11 / 20 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1996 | 11 / 20 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1995 | 11 / 20 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1994 | 12 / 20 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1993 | 12 / 20 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1992 | 11 / 20 | 1 | $2,743 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 20 EPA ratings of the Dodge Viper — 3 engines across 1992–2017. 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 $5,483. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Dodge Viper get?
14.2 mpg combined on average — 11.4 in the city and 20 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1992–2017.
How much does a Dodge Viper cost in fuel per year?
About $2,704 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $13,520 over five years, or 0.225 dollars a mile.
Which Viper engine is the most economical?
The 8.4L 10-cyl at 15.3 mpg, against 13.3 for the 8.3L 10-cyl — a difference of about $377 a year.
Is the Viper good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Viper 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 Viper is $5,483 against the $2,704 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 16 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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