The Mitsubishi Precis does 28.5 mpg combined (25.5 city, 32.9 highway), which works out to about $1,347 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.4L 4-cyl does 34 mpg while 1.5L 4-cyl does 27.7 — a difference of $257 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mitsubishi Precis engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mitsubishi Precis ranges from 34 down to 27.7 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $257 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl | 31 / 37 | 1984–1984 | $1,129 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 24.7 / 32.3 | 1987–1993 | $1,386 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi Precis burns a gallon every 28.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 421 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.112 |
| Fuel per year | $1,347 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,735 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$147 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,181 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi Precis gives up 7.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 32.9 out there against 25.5 in town, a 29% drop worth $339 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 | 25.5 mpg | $1,506 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 32.9 mpg | $1,167 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.4 mpg (29%) | Typical for its type |
How the Precis changed over the years
The Precis peaked in 1984 at 34 mpg (31 city, 37 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1993 at 27 — 7 mpg apart, or $293 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1993 car does 27. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 25 / 30 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1992 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1991 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1990 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1989 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1988 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1987 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1984 | 31 / 37 | 1 | $1,129 |
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 8 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Precis — 2 engines across 1984–1993. 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 $2,181. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Precis get?
28.5 mpg combined on average — 25.5 in the city and 32.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1993.
How much does a Mitsubishi Precis cost in fuel per year?
About $1,347 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,735 over five years, or 0.112 dollars a mile.
Which Precis engine is the most economical?
The 1.4L 4-cyl at 34 mpg, against 27.7 for the 1.5L 4-cyl — a difference of about $257 a year.
Is the Precis 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 Precis 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 Precis is $2,181 against the $1,347 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 34 and 27 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.