The Mazda MX-6 does 23.3 mpg combined (20.7 city, 27.9 highway), which works out to about $1,648 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 26 mpg while 2.5L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $443 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mazda MX-6 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mazda MX-6 ranges from 26 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $443 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 23 / 31 | 1993–1997 | $1,477 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 21 / 28.6 | 1988–1992 | $1,600 | |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 18 / 24 | 1993–1997 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Mazda MX-6 burns a gallon every 23.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 515 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.137 |
| Fuel per year | $1,648 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,240 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$154 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,933 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mazda MX-6 gives up 7.2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.9 out there against 20.7 in town, a 35% drop worth $479 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 | 27.9 mpg | $1,376 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.2 mpg (35%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the MX-6 changed over the years
The MX-6 peaked in 1992 at 24 mpg (21 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1997 at 23 — 1 mpg apart, or $70 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1997 car does 23. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1996 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1995 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1994 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1993 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 1992 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1991 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1990 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1989 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1988 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 |
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 15 EPA ratings of the Mazda MX-6 — 3 engines across 1988–1997. 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 $2,933. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mazda MX-6 get?
23.3 mpg combined on average — 20.7 in the city and 27.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1988–1997.
How much does a Mazda MX-6 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,648 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,240 over five years, or 0.137 dollars a mile.
Which MX-6 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 26 mpg, against 20 for the 2.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $443 a year.
Is the MX-6 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 MX-6 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 MX-6 is $2,933 against the $1,648 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 26 and 20 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.