The Mazda RX-7 does 17.8 mpg combined (15.2 city, 22.1 highway), which works out to about $2,157 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.3L 2-cyl does 18 mpg while 1.1L 2-cyl does 17 — a difference of $126 a year. Against other 2-cyl cars it sits below the average of 18.2 mpg.
Every Mazda RX-7 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mazda RX-7 ranges from 18 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $126 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 2-cyl | 15.2 / 22.4 | 1986–1995 | $2,133 | |
| 1.3L | 15 / 22 | 1986–1986 | $2,133 | |
| 1.1L 2-cyl | 15 / 20.5 | 1984–1985 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Mazda RX-7 burns a gallon every 17.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 674 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.180 |
| Fuel per year | $2,157 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,785 |
| Against other 2-cyl cars | +$47 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,677 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mazda RX-7 gives up 6.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.1 out there against 15.2 in town, a 45% drop worth $788 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 | 15.2 mpg | $2,526 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.1 mpg | $1,738 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.9 mpg (45%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the RX-7 changed over the years
The RX-7 peaked in 1995 at 18 mpg (15 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1985 at 17 — 1 mpg apart, or $126 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1995 car does 18. 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 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1992 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1991 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1989 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1988 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1987 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1986 | 15 / 22 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1985 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1984 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 13 EPA ratings of the Mazda RX-7 — 3 engines across 1984–1995. 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 $3,677. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mazda RX-7 get?
17.8 mpg combined on average — 15.2 in the city and 22.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1995.
How much does a Mazda RX-7 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,157 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,785 over five years, or 0.180 dollars a mile.
Which RX-7 engine is the most economical?
The 1.3L 2-cyl at 18 mpg, against 17 for the 1.1L 2-cyl — a difference of about $126 a year.
Is the RX-7 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 2-cyl cars it sits below the average of 18.2 mpg, computed across 20 ratings.
Are these real-world RX-7 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 RX-7 is $3,677 against the $2,157 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 18 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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