The Jeep CJ-7 does 18 mpg combined (16.5 city, 20 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: 2.5L 4-cyl does 19 mpg while 4.2L 6-cyl does 17 — a difference of $238 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Jeep CJ-7 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Jeep CJ-7 ranges from 19 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $238 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 17.7 / 20.7 | 1984–1986 | $2,021 | |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 15.3 / 19.3 | 1984–1986 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Jeep CJ-7 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 4-cyl cars | +$639 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,467 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Jeep CJ-7 gives up 3.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20 out there against 16.5 in town, a 21% drop worth $407 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 | 16.5 mpg | $2,327 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20 mpg | $1,920 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.5 mpg (21%) | Typical for its type |
How the CJ-7 changed over the years
The CJ-7 peaked in 1984 at 19 mpg (17.5 city, 21 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1986 at 17.5 — 1.5 mpg apart, or $173 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1986 car does 17.5.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 16 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 1985 | 16 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 1984 | 17.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Jeep CJ-7 — 2 engines across 1984–1986. 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 $3,467. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Jeep CJ-7 get?
18 mpg combined on average — 16.5 in the city and 20 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1986.
How much does a Jeep CJ-7 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 CJ-7 engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 19 mpg, against 17 for the 4.2L 6-cyl — a difference of about $238 a year.
Is the CJ-7 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 CJ-7 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Jeep CJ-7 is $3,467 against the $2,133 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.