The Mitsubishi Montero Sport does 18.5 mpg combined (17.1 city, 20.8 highway), which works out to about $2,076 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.4L 4-cyl does 20.7 mpg while 3.5L 6-cyl does 17 — a difference of $404 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Mitsubishi Montero Sport engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mitsubishi Montero Sport ranges from 20.7 down to 17 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $404 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 19.7 / 22.7 | 1997–1999 | $1,855 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.3 / 20.3 | 1997–2003 | $2,145 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 15 / 19 | 2004–2004 | $2,259 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport burns a gallon every 18.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 649 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.173 |
| Fuel per year | $2,076 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,380 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$146 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,364 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport gives up 3.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.8 out there against 17.1 in town, a 22% drop worth $400 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 | 17.1 mpg | $2,246 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.8 mpg | $1,846 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.7 mpg (22%) | Typical for its type |
How the Montero Sport changed over the years
The Montero Sport peaked in 1998 at 19.5 mpg (18.5 city, 21.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 17 — 2.5 mpg apart, or $290 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2004 car does 17. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 15 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2003 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2001 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1999 | 17.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1998 | 18.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1997 | 18.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $1,969 |
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 11 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport — 3 engines across 1997–2004. 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 $3,364. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Montero Sport get?
18.5 mpg combined on average — 17.1 in the city and 20.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1997–2004.
How much does a Mitsubishi Montero Sport cost in fuel per year?
About $2,076 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,380 over five years, or 0.173 dollars a mile.
Which Montero Sport engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 20.7 mpg, against 17 for the 3.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $404 a year.
Is the Montero Sport good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Montero Sport 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 Montero Sport is $3,364 against the $2,076 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 17 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.