The Hyundai Excel does 27.7 mpg combined (24.8 city, 32.4 highway), which works out to about $1,386 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Hyundai Excel engine, compared
The Hyundai Excel was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 24.8 / 32.4 | 1986–1994 | $1,386 |
What that actually costs
The Hyundai Excel burns a gallon every 27.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 433 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.116 |
| Fuel per year | $1,386 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,930 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$108 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,233 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Hyundai Excel gives up 7.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 32.4 out there against 24.8 in town, a 31% drop worth $363 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 | 24.8 mpg | $1,548 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 32.4 mpg | $1,185 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.6 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Excel changed over the years
The Excel peaked in 1993 at 28 mpg (25 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 27 — 1 mpg apart, or $51 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1994 car does 27. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1993 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1992 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1991 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1990 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1989 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1988 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1987 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1986 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 9 EPA ratings of the Hyundai Excel — 1 engine across 1986–1994. 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 $2,233. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Hyundai Excel get?
27.7 mpg combined on average — 24.8 in the city and 32.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1986–1994.
How much does a Hyundai Excel cost in fuel per year?
About $1,386 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,930 over five years, or 0.116 dollars a mile.
Which Excel engine is the most economical?
The 1.5L 4-cyl at 27.7 mpg.
Is the Excel good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Excel figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Hyundai Excel is $2,233 against the $1,386 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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