The Mitsubishi Eclipse does 22.3 mpg combined (19.3 city, 27.3 highway), which works out to about $1,722 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.8L 4-cyl does 24 mpg while 3.8L 6-cyl does 19.7 — a difference of $349 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mitsubishi Eclipse engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mitsubishi Eclipse ranges from 24 down to 19.7 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $349 a year across 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 / 29 | 1990–1994 | $1,600 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 20.6 / 29.4 | 1995–1999 | $1,627 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 20.1 / 27.9 | 2000–2012 | $1,662 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18 / 25.5 | 2000–2005 | $1,829 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 16.7 / 25 | 2006–2012 | $1,949 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi Eclipse burns a gallon every 22.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 538 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.143 |
| Fuel per year | $1,722 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,610 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$228 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,118 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi Eclipse gives up 8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.3 out there against 19.3 in town, a 41% drop worth $583 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 | 19.3 mpg | $1,990 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.3 mpg | $1,407 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8 mpg (41%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Eclipse changed over the years
The Eclipse peaked in 1997 at 24 mpg (21 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2010 at 21 — 3 mpg apart, or $229 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2012 car does 21.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 18.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2011 | 18.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2010 | 18 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2009 | 18 / 26 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2008 | 18.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2007 | 18.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2006 | 18.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2005 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2003 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2002 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2001 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2000 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1999 | 20 / 30 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1998 | 20 / 30 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1997 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1996 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1995 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1994 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1993 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1992 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1991 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1990 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 36 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Eclipse — 5 engines across 1990–2012. 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 $3,118. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Eclipse get?
22.3 mpg combined on average — 19.3 in the city and 27.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1990–2012.
How much does a Mitsubishi Eclipse cost in fuel per year?
About $1,722 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,610 over five years, or 0.143 dollars a mile.
Which Eclipse engine is the most economical?
The 1.8L 4-cyl at 24 mpg, against 19.7 for the 3.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $349 a year.
Is the Eclipse 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 Eclipse figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mitsubishi Eclipse is $3,118 against the $1,722 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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