The Mitsubishi Starion does 18.5 mpg combined (16.5 city, 22.2 highway), which works out to about $2,076 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 Starion engine, compared
The Mitsubishi Starion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6L 4-cyl | 16.5 / 22.2 | 1984–1989 | $2,076 |
What that actually costs
The Mitsubishi Starion 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 4-cyl cars | +$582 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,050 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mitsubishi Starion gives up 5.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.2 out there against 16.5 in town, a 35% drop worth $597 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 | 16.5 mpg | $2,327 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.2 mpg | $1,730 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.7 mpg (35%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Starion changed over the years
The Starion peaked in 1986 at 19 mpg (17 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1989 at 18 — 1 mpg apart, or $112 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1989 car does 18. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1988 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1987 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1986 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1985 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1984 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Mitsubishi Starion — 1 engine across 1984–1989. 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 $4,050. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Starion get?
18.5 mpg combined on average — 16.5 in the city and 22.2 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1989.
How much does a Mitsubishi Starion 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 Starion engine is the most economical?
The 2.6L 4-cyl at 18.5 mpg.
Is the Starion 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 Starion 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 Starion is $4,050 against the $2,076 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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