The Jeep Wagoneer does 19.7 mpg combined (17.8 city, 22.5 highway), which works out to about $1,949 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.1L 4-cyl does 25.7 mpg while 2.8L 6-cyl does 17 — a difference of $765 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Jeep Wagoneer engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Jeep Wagoneer ranges from 25.7 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $765 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1L 4-cyl | 24.3 / 27 | 1985–1987 | $1,494 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 18.7 / 23 | 1984–1989 | $1,892 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2023–2025 | $1,920 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl Hybrid | 16 / 22 | 2022–2023 | $2,133 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 15.5 / 20.5 | 1987–1990 | $2,220 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 15.3 / 19 | 1984–1986 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Jeep Wagoneer burns a gallon every 19.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 609 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.162 |
| Fuel per year | $1,949 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,745 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$19 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,386 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Jeep Wagoneer gives up 4.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.5 out there against 17.8 in town, a 26% drop worth $450 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 | 22.5 mpg | $1,707 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.7 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the Wagoneer changed over the years
The Wagoneer peaked in 1987 at 21.5 mpg (20 city, 23.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1990 at 16 — 5.5 mpg apart, or $614 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2025 car does 20. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2024 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2023 | 16.5 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2022 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 15 / 19 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 1989 | 16.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1988 | 17.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1987 | 20 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1986 | 19.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1985 | 20.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1984 | 17 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 18 EPA ratings of the Jeep Wagoneer — 6 engines across 1984–2025. 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 $3,386. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Jeep Wagoneer get?
19.7 mpg combined on average — 17.8 in the city and 22.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2025.
How much does a Jeep Wagoneer cost in fuel per year?
About $1,949 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,745 over five years, or 0.162 dollars a mile.
Which Wagoneer engine is the most economical?
The 2.1L 4-cyl at 25.7 mpg, against 17 for the 2.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $765 a year.
Is the Wagoneer 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 Wagoneer 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 Wagoneer is $3,386 against the $1,949 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 26 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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