The Mazda 929 does 18.8 mpg combined (17 city, 21.5 highway), which works out to about $2,043 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Mazda 929 engine, compared
The Mazda 929 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 21.5 | 1988–1995 | $2,043 |
What that actually costs
The Mazda 929 burns a gallon every 18.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 638 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.170 |
| Fuel per year | $2,043 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,215 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$113 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,713 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mazda 929 gives up 4.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.5 out there against 17 in town, a 26% drop worth $473 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 mpg | $2,259 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.5 mpg | $1,786 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.5 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the 929 changed over the years
The 929 peaked in 1995 at 19 mpg (17 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 18 — 1 mpg apart, or $112 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1995 car does 19. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1994 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1992 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1991 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1989 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1988 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 8 EPA ratings of the Mazda 929 — 1 engine across 1988–1995. 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 $3,713. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mazda 929 get?
18.8 mpg combined on average — 17 in the city and 21.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1988–1995.
How much does a Mazda 929 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,043 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,215 over five years, or 0.170 dollars a mile.
Which 929 engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 18.8 mpg.
Is the 929 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 929 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mazda 929 is $3,713 against the $2,043 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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