The Nissan 240SX does 21.3 mpg combined (18.8 city, 24.9 highway), which works out to about $1,803 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 Nissan 240SX engine, compared
The Nissan 240SX 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 18.8 / 24.9 | 1989–1998 | $1,803 |
What that actually costs
The Nissan 240SX burns a gallon every 21.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 563 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.150 |
| Fuel per year | $1,803 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,015 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$309 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,470 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Nissan 240SX gives up 6.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.9 out there against 18.8 in town, a 32% drop worth $501 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 | 18.8 mpg | $2,043 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.9 mpg | $1,542 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.1 mpg (32%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 240SX changed over the years
The 240SX peaked in 1998 at 22 mpg (20 city, 25 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 20 — 2 mpg apart, or $175 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1998 car does 22. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1997 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1996 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1995 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1994 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1993 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1992 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1991 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1990 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 1989 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 10 EPA ratings of the Nissan 240SX — 1 engine across 1989–1998. 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 $3,470. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Nissan 240SX get?
21.3 mpg combined on average — 18.8 in the city and 24.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1989–1998.
How much does a Nissan 240SX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,803 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,015 over five years, or 0.150 dollars a mile.
Which 240SX engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 21.3 mpg.
Is the 240SX 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 240SX figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Nissan 240SX is $3,470 against the $1,803 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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