The Mercedes-Benz 400 does 17 mpg combined (15.5 city, 21 highway), which works out to about $2,259 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz 400 engine, compared
The Mercedes-Benz 400 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 15.5 / 21 | 1992–1993 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz 400 burns a gallon every 17 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 706 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.188 |
| Fuel per year | $2,259 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,295 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$126 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,550 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz 400 gives up 5.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21 out there against 15.5 in town, a 35% drop worth $648 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 | 15.5 mpg | $2,477 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21 mpg | $1,829 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.5 mpg (35%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 400 changed over the years
The 400 peaked in 1993 at 18 mpg (16 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1992 at 16 — 2 mpg apart, or $267 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1993 car does 18.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1992 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz 400 — 1 engine across 1992–1993. 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 $4,550. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz 400 get?
17 mpg combined on average — 15.5 in the city and 21 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1992–1993.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz 400 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,259 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,295 over five years, or 0.188 dollars a mile.
Which 400 engine is the most economical?
The 4.2L 8-cyl at 17 mpg.
Is the 400 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world 400 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz 400 is $4,550 against the $2,259 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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