The Mazda GLC does 28 mpg combined (25.3 city, 32 highway), which works out to about $1,371 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mazda GLC engine, compared
The Mazda GLC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 25.3 / 32 | 1984–1986 | $1,371 |
What that actually costs
The Mazda GLC burns a gallon every 28 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 429 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.114 |
| Fuel per year | $1,371 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,855 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$123 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,267 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mazda GLC gives up 6.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 32 out there against 25.3 in town, a 26% drop worth $318 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 | 25.3 mpg | $1,518 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 32 mpg | $1,200 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.7 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the GLC changed over the years
The GLC peaked in 1985 at 30 mpg (27 city, 35 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1986 at 24 — 6 mpg apart, or $320 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1986 car does 24.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 22 / 26 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1985 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 1984 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 |
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 Mazda GLC — 1 engine 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 $2,267. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mazda GLC get?
28 mpg combined on average — 25.3 in the city and 32 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1986.
How much does a Mazda GLC cost in fuel per year?
About $1,371 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,855 over five years, or 0.114 dollars a mile.
Which GLC engine is the most economical?
The 1.5L 4-cyl at 28 mpg.
Is the GLC good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world GLC 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 GLC is $2,267 against the $1,371 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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