The Isuzu Amigo does 17.8 mpg combined (16.4 city, 19.8 highway), which works out to about $2,157 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 19.7 mpg while 2.6L 4-cyl does 16.5 — a difference of $378 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Isuzu Amigo engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Isuzu Amigo ranges from 19.7 down to 16.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $378 a year across 4 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 | 18 / 21.7 | 1998–2000 | $1,949 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 17 / 19.8 | 1989–1992 | $2,133 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 15 / 18.7 | 1998–2000 | $2,299 | |
| 2.6L 4-cyl | 15 / 19 | 1993–1994 | $2,327 |
What that actually costs
The Isuzu Amigo burns a gallon every 17.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 674 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.180 |
| Fuel per year | $2,157 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,785 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$663 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,504 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Isuzu Amigo gives up 3.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 19.8 out there against 16.4 in town, a 21% drop worth $402 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 | 16.4 mpg | $2,341 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 19.8 mpg | $1,939 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.4 mpg (21%) | Typical for its type |
How the Amigo changed over the years
The Amigo peaked in 1999 at 18.5 mpg (16.5 city, 20.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 16 — 2.5 mpg apart, or $324 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2000 car does 17.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 1999 | 16.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1994 | 15 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 1993 | 15 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1992 | 17 / 19 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1991 | 17 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 17 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1989 | 17 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 12 EPA ratings of the Isuzu Amigo — 4 engines across 1989–2000. 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 $3,504. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Isuzu Amigo get?
17.8 mpg combined on average — 16.4 in the city and 19.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1989–2000.
How much does a Isuzu Amigo cost in fuel per year?
About $2,157 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,785 over five years, or 0.180 dollars a mile.
Which Amigo engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 19.7 mpg, against 16.5 for the 2.6L 4-cyl — a difference of about $378 a year.
Is the Amigo 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 Amigo figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Isuzu Amigo is $3,504 against the $2,157 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 20 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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