The Ford Ranger does 21 mpg combined (19.1 city, 24.1 highway), which works out to about $1,829 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 26 mpg while 4L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $656 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Ford Ranger engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Ford Ranger ranges from 26 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $656 a year across 8 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 | 25 / 28 | 1984–1984 | $1,477 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 21.2 / 26.1 | 1985–2026 | $1,662 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 19.3 / 24 | 1998–2000 | $1,803 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 18.7 / 23 | 2024–2026 | $1,920 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 17 / 22.5 | 1984–1985 | $2,021 | |
| 2.9L 6-cyl | 16.6 / 21.8 | 1986–1990 | $2,065 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.5 / 21.8 | 1991–2008 | $2,087 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 16 / 20.8 | 2001–2011 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Ford Ranger burns a gallon every 21 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 571 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.152 |
| Fuel per year | $1,829 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,145 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$335 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,049 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford Ranger gives up 5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.1 out there against 19.1 in town, a 26% drop worth $417 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 | 19.1 mpg | $2,010 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.1 mpg | $1,593 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the Ranger changed over the years
The Ranger peaked in 2023 at 23 mpg (21 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1998 at 19 — 4 mpg apart, or $351 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 21.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2025 | 20 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2024 | 20 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2023 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2022 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2021 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2020 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2011 | 19 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2010 | 19 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2009 | 18.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2008 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2007 | 18.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2006 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2005 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2004 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2003 | 19 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2002 | 19 / 23 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2001 | 18.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1999 | 17.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1997 | 18.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1996 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1995 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1994 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1993 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1992 | 19 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1991 | 19 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1990 | 18.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 67 EPA ratings of the Ford Ranger — 8 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 $3,049. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford Ranger get?
21 mpg combined on average — 19.1 in the city and 24.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.
How much does a Ford Ranger cost in fuel per year?
About $1,829 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,145 over five years, or 0.152 dollars a mile.
Which Ranger engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 26 mpg, against 18 for the 4L 6-cyl — a difference of about $656 a year.
Is the Ranger 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 Ranger 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 Ranger is $3,049 against the $1,829 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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