The Mitsubishi SP does 21.5 mpg combined (20.5 city, 22.5 highway), which works out to about $1,786 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mitsubishi SP engine, compared
The Mitsubishi SP was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 20.5 / 22.5 | 1985–1986 | $1,786 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi SP burns a gallon every 21.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 558 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.149 |
| Fuel per year | $1,786 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,930 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$292 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,875 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi SP gives up 2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.5 out there against 20.5 in town, a 10% drop worth $166 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 | 20.5 mpg | $1,873 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.5 mpg | $1,707 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2 mpg (10%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the SP changed over the years
The SP peaked in 1985 at 22 mpg (21 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1986 at 21 — 1 mpg apart, or $84 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1986 car does 21.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 20 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1985 | 21 / 23 | 1 | $1,745 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi SP — 1 engine across 1985–1986. 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 $2,875. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi SP get?
21.5 mpg combined on average — 20.5 in the city and 22.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1985–1986.
How much does a Mitsubishi SP cost in fuel per year?
About $1,786 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,930 over five years, or 0.149 dollars a mile.
Which SP engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 21.5 mpg.
Is the SP 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 SP 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 SP is $2,875 against the $1,786 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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