The GMC Jimmy does 18 mpg combined (15.8 city, 21.5 highway), which works out to about $2,133 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 23 mpg while 5L 8-cyl Hybrid does 14 — a difference of $1,073 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every GMC Jimmy engine, compared
Gas mileage on the GMC Jimmy ranges from 23 down to 14 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,073 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.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 20 / 27 | 1984–1984 | $1,670 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 19.3 / 25.5 | 1985–1988 | $1,761 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 16.2 / 22.5 | 1984–1989 | $2,076 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 15.2 / 21.1 | 1990–2004 | $2,182 | |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 15.1 / 19.9 | 1984–1991 | $2,259 | |
| 5L 8-cyl Hybrid | 12 / 16 | 1984–1985 | $2,743 |
What that actually costs
The GMC Jimmy burns a gallon every 18 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 667 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.178 |
| Fuel per year | $2,133 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,665 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$203 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,783 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The GMC Jimmy gives up 5.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.5 out there against 15.8 in town, a 36% drop worth $644 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 | 15.8 mpg | $2,430 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.5 mpg | $1,786 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.7 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Jimmy changed over the years
The Jimmy peaked in 1988 at 19.3 mpg (16.7 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 16 — 3.3 mpg apart, or $410 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2004 car does 16. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 14 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1999 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1998 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1997 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1996 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1995 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1992 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1991 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1990 | 15.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 1989 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1988 | 16.7 / 23 | 3 | $1,990 | |
| 1987 | 16.3 / 21.7 | 3 | $2,098 | |
| 1986 | 16.7 / 21.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 1985 | 15.8 / 21.3 | 4 | $2,133 | |
| 1984 | 16.3 / 21.8 | 4 | $2,076 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 35 EPA ratings of the GMC Jimmy — 6 engines across 1984–2004. 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 $3,783. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the GMC Jimmy get?
18 mpg combined on average — 15.8 in the city and 21.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2004.
How much does a GMC Jimmy cost in fuel per year?
About $2,133 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,665 over five years, or 0.178 dollars a mile.
Which Jimmy engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 23 mpg, against 14 for the 5L 8-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $1,073 a year.
Is the Jimmy good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Jimmy figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the GMC Jimmy is $3,783 against the $2,133 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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