The Mitsubishi Lancer does 27.1 mpg combined (24.3 city, 31.7 highway), which works out to about $1,417 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 27.2 mpg while 1.6L 4-cyl does 26 — a difference of $65 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mitsubishi Lancer engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mitsubishi Lancer ranges from 27.2 down to 26 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $65 a year across 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 24.4 / 31.9 | 2004–2017 | $1,412 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 24 / 30 | 2002–2003 | $1,477 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi Lancer burns a gallon every 27.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 443 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.118 |
| Fuel per year | $1,417 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,085 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$77 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,309 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi Lancer gives up 7.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.7 out there against 24.3 in town, a 30% drop worth $369 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 | 24.3 mpg | $1,580 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.7 mpg | $1,211 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.4 mpg (30%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Lancer changed over the years
The Lancer peaked in 2017 at 30 mpg (27 city, 34 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2008 at 24 — 6 mpg apart, or $320 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2017 car does 30. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 27 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2016 | 27 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2015 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2014 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2013 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2012 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2011 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2010 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2009 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2008 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2007 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2006 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2005 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2004 | 24 / 32 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2003 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2002 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 |
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
How we count
This page rests on 16 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Lancer — 2 engines across 2002–2017. 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 $2,309. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Lancer get?
27.1 mpg combined on average — 24.3 in the city and 31.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2002–2017.
How much does a Mitsubishi Lancer cost in fuel per year?
About $1,417 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,085 over five years, or 0.118 dollars a mile.
Which Lancer engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 27.2 mpg, against 26 for the 1.6L 4-cyl — a difference of about $65 a year.
Is the Lancer good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Lancer 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 Lancer is $2,309 against the $1,417 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 30 and 24 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.