The Mazda RX-8 has 8 EPA ratings on record, 2004 to 2011.
Every Mazda RX-8 engine, compared
The Mazda RX-8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 2-cyl | 16 / 22.8 | 2004–2011 | $2,043 |
What that actually costs
Against its rivals in the same model years, the Honda Civic gets 36.2 mpg, the Nissan Sentra 29 mpg and the Volkswagen Beetle 24.3 mpg, next to 19 mpg for the 2011 RX-8. The RX-8 costs the most of them to run: $960 a year more than the Honda Civic.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile (2011) | $0.168 |
| Fuel per year | $2,021 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,105 |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,113 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The 2011 Mazda RX-8 gives up 7 mpg in town: 23 on the highway against 16 in the city, $730 a year if every mile were city driving.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City (2011) | 16 mpg | $2,400 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23 mpg | $1,670 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (44%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the RX-8 changed over the years
The RX-8 peaked in 2011 at 19 mpg (16 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 18 — 1 mpg apart, or $112 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2006 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2005 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 |
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 RX-8 — 1 engine across 2004–2011. 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 $4,113. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the 2011 Mazda RX-8 get?
19 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, per EPA. Across every year since 2004 the RX-8 has averaged 18.8 mpg.
Is the 2011 RX-8 more efficient than the 2010?
About the same: 19 against 19 mpg combined.
Which RX-8 year has the best gas mileage?
The 2011, at 19 mpg combined (16 city, 23 highway), which is also the latest model year we hold.
Does the RX-8 get better gas mileage than the Honda Civic?
No: 19 mpg for the 2011 RX-8 against 36.2 for the 2012 Honda Civic, about $960 a year more to run.
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