The Ford Courier does 20.8 mpg combined (19 city, 23.8 highway), which works out to about $1,846 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 21.3 mpg while 2.2L 4-cyl does 20 — a difference of $117 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Ford Courier engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Ford Courier ranges from 21.3 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $117 a year across 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 19.7 / 24.3 | 1984–1987 | $1,803 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 18 / 23 | 1988–1989 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Ford Courier burns a gallon every 20.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 577 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.154 |
| Fuel per year | $1,846 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,230 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$352 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,990 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford Courier gives up 4.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.8 out there against 19 in town, a 25% drop worth $408 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 mpg | $2,021 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.8 mpg | $1,613 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.8 mpg (25%) | Typical for its type |
How the Courier changed over the years
The Courier peaked in 1984 at 22 mpg (21 city, 25 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1989 at 20 — 2 mpg apart, or $175 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1989 car does 20. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1988 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1987 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1986 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1984 | 21 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 |
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
How we count
This page rests on 5 EPA ratings of the Ford Courier — 2 engines across 1984–1989. 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 $2,990. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford Courier get?
20.8 mpg combined on average — 19 in the city and 23.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1989.
How much does a Ford Courier cost in fuel per year?
About $1,846 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,230 over five years, or 0.154 dollars a mile.
Which Courier engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 21.3 mpg, against 20 for the 2.2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $117 a year.
Is the Courier 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 Courier figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Ford Courier is $2,990 against the $1,846 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 22 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.