The Mitsubishi Space Wagon does 21.1 mpg combined (20 city, 22.6 highway), which works out to about $1,820 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 Space Wagon engine, compared
The Mitsubishi Space Wagon 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 / 22.6 | 1984–1991 | $1,820 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi Space Wagon burns a gallon every 21.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 569 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.152 |
| Fuel per year | $1,820 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,100 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$326 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,950 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi Space Wagon gives up 2.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.6 out there against 20 in town, a 13% drop worth $221 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 mpg | $1,920 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.6 mpg | $1,699 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2.6 mpg (13%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Space Wagon changed over the years
The Space Wagon peaked in 1984 at 24 mpg (22 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 20 — 4 mpg apart, or $320 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1991 car does 20. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19 / 22 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1990 | 19 / 22 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1989 | 19 / 22 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1988 | 20 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1987 | 20 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1986 | 20 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1985 | 21 / 23 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1984 | 22 / 26 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 8 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Space Wagon — 1 engine across 1984–1991. 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 $2,950. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Space Wagon get?
21.1 mpg combined on average — 20 in the city and 22.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1991.
How much does a Mitsubishi Space Wagon cost in fuel per year?
About $1,820 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,100 over five years, or 0.152 dollars a mile.
Which Space Wagon engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 21.1 mpg.
Is the Space Wagon 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 Space Wagon 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 Space Wagon is $2,950 against the $1,820 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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