Mitsubishi Galant MPG — Gas Mileage by Engine and Year

Quick answer

Against 323 other 4-cyl cars rated 2010–2012, the Galant trails their 26.2 mpg average by 2.2 mpg, about $134 a year. Averaged over the years each was sold, the most economical engine since 1985, the 2.3L 4-cyl (1998), does 23 mpg and the thirstiest, the 3.8L 6-cyl (2004–2009), 19.2: $330 a year apart.

Every Mitsubishi Galant engine, compared

Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.

FIG.01·Mitsubishi Galant gas mileage by engine
Engine	Combined	City / Highway	Years	Fuel per year
2.3L 4-cyl	23	20 / 27	1998–1998	$1,670
2.4L 4-cyl	22.4	19.9 / 27	1985–2012	$1,714
2L 4-cyl	22.4	20 / 27.2	1989–1993	$1,714
3L 6-cyl	20	17.2 / 24.2	1988–2003	$1,920
2.5L 6-cyl	20	18 / 24	1995–1997	$1,920
3.8L 6-cyl	19.2	16.5 / 25	2004–2009	$2,000

ROWS 6·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

What that actually costs

Against its rivals in the same model years, the Ford Focus gets 31 mpg, the Nissan Versa 32.7 mpg and the Audi A4 25.3 mpg, next to 24 mpg for the 2012 Galant. The Galant costs the most of them to run: $426 a year more than the Nissan Versa.

FIG.02·Mitsubishi Galant fuel cost
Measure	Value
Cost per mile (2012)	$0.133
Fuel per year	$1,600
Fuel over five years	$8,000
Against other 4-cyl cars, 2010–2012	+$134 a year
EPA's own estimate	$3,096 a year

ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA ratings

City or highway — who is this car for

The 2012 Mitsubishi Galant gives up 8 mpg in town: 29 on the highway against 21 in the city, $505 a year if every mile were city driving.

FIG.03·Mitsubishi Galant city versus highway
Measure	Value	Reading
City (2012)	21 mpg	$1,829 a year if you only drive in town
Highway	29 mpg	$1,324 a year if you mostly commute
Gap	+8 mpg (38%)	Wide — this car dislikes traffic

ROWS 3·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

How the Galant changed over the years

The Galant peaked in 2012 at 24 mpg (21 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1988 at 18 — 6 mpg apart, or $533 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The biggest single-year change came in 2010: 21 to 24 mpg.

FIG.04·Mitsubishi Galant gas mileage by model year
Model year	Combined	City / Highway	Engines offered	Fuel per year
2012	24	21 / 29	1	$1,600
2011	24	21 / 30	1	$1,600
2010	24	21 / 30	1	$1,600
2009	21	18 / 26	2	$1,829
2008	21.5	18.5 / 26	2	$1,786
2007	21	18 / 26	2	$1,829
2006	21	18 / 26	2	$1,829
2005	21	18.5 / 26	2	$1,829
2004	21	18.5 / 26	2	$1,829
2003	21	18.5 / 25	2	$1,829
2002	21	18 / 25.5	2	$1,829
2001	20.5	18 / 25.5	2	$1,873
2000	20.5	18 / 25.5	2	$1,873
1999	21.5	18.5 / 26.5	2	$1,786
1998	23	20 / 27	1	$1,670
1997	21.5	19.5 / 26	2	$1,786
1996	23	21 / 28	1	$1,670
1995	21.5	19.5 / 26	2	$1,786
1994	23	21 / 28	1	$1,670
1993	22	19 / 27	1	$1,745
1992	23	21 / 28	1	$1,670
1991	22	19 / 26	1	$1,745
1990	22	20 / 27	1	$1,745
1989	23	21 / 28	1	$1,670
1988	18	16 / 20	1	$2,133
1987	20	18 / 24	1	$1,920
1986	20	18 / 24	1	$1,920
1985	21	19 / 24	1	$1,829

ROWS 28·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

Upgrade to Pro

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

See plans → Start free →

Free plan available — no credit card needed

How we count

This page rests on 41 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Galant — 6 engines across 1985–2012. 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 $3,096. Full method.

Everything on the Mitsubishi Galant

Recalls67 campaigns Reliability3.5/5 Common problems2,032 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space14 cu ft Used prices175 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1985–2012

Frequently asked questions

What mpg does the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant get?

24 mpg combined, 21 city and 29 highway, per EPA. Across every year since 1985 the Galant has averaged 21.5 mpg.

Is the 2012 Galant more efficient than the 2011?

About the same: 24 against 24 mpg combined.

Which Galant year has the best gas mileage?

The 2012, at 24 mpg combined (21 city, 29 highway), which is also the latest model year we hold.

Does the Galant get better gas mileage than the Ford Focus?

No: 24 mpg for the 2012 Galant against 31 for the 2013 Ford Focus, about $361 a year more to run.

Gas mileage ratings from EPA fueleconomy.gov, unadjusted. Running cost computed by ForCar at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →