The Honda S2000 does 20.2 mpg combined (17.8 city, 23.9 highway), which works out to about $1,901 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 20.3 mpg while 2L 4-cyl does 20 — a difference of $28 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Honda S2000 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Honda S2000 ranges from 20.3 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 17.7 / 24 | 2004–2009 | $1,892 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 18 / 23.8 | 2000–2003 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Honda S2000 burns a gallon every 20.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 594 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 |
| Fuel per year | $1,901 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,505 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$407 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,810 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Honda S2000 gives up 6.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.9 out there against 17.8 in town, a 34% drop worth $550 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 | 17.8 mpg | $2,157 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.9 mpg | $1,607 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.1 mpg (34%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the S2000 changed over the years
The S2000 peaked in 2009 at 21 mpg (18 city, 25 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2007 at 20 — 1 mpg apart, or $91 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2009 car does 21. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2008 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2007 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2006 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2005 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 |
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 Honda S2000 — 2 engines across 2000–2009. 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 $3,810. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Honda S2000 get?
20.2 mpg combined on average — 17.8 in the city and 23.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2009.
How much does a Honda S2000 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,901 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,505 over five years, or 0.158 dollars a mile.
Which S2000 engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 20.3 mpg, against 20 for the 2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $28 a year.
Is the S2000 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 S2000 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Honda S2000 is $3,810 against the $1,901 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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