The Lotus Elan does 23.7 mpg combined (20.7 city, 28.7 highway), which works out to about $1,620 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Lotus Elan engine, compared
The Lotus Elan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 20.7 / 28.7 | 1991–1993 | $1,620 |
What that actually costs
The Lotus Elan burns a gallon every 23.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 506 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.135 |
| Fuel per year | $1,620 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,100 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$126 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,250 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lotus Elan gives up 8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.7 out there against 20.7 in town, a 39% drop worth $517 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 | 20.7 mpg | $1,855 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.7 mpg | $1,338 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8 mpg (39%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Elan changed over the years
The Elan peaked in 1992 at 24 mpg (21 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1993 at 23 — 1 mpg apart, or $70 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1993 car does 23.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1992 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1991 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Lotus Elan — 1 engine across 1991–1993. 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 $3,250. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lotus Elan get?
23.7 mpg combined on average — 20.7 in the city and 28.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1991–1993.
How much does a Lotus Elan cost in fuel per year?
About $1,620 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,100 over five years, or 0.135 dollars a mile.
Which Elan engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 23.7 mpg.
Is the Elan 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 Elan figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Lotus Elan is $3,250 against the $1,620 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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