The Nissan 300ZX does 18.8 mpg combined (16.5 city, 22.8 highway), which works out to about $2,043 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Nissan 300ZX engine, compared
The Nissan 300ZX 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.5 / 22.8 | 1984–1996 | $2,043 |
What that actually costs
The Nissan 300ZX burns a gallon every 18.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 638 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.170 |
| Fuel per year | $2,043 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,215 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$113 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,746 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Nissan 300ZX gives up 6.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.8 out there against 16.5 in town, a 38% drop worth $643 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 | 22.8 mpg | $1,684 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.3 mpg (38%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 300ZX changed over the years
The 300ZX peaked in 1984 at 20 mpg (18 city, 24 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 18 — 2 mpg apart, or $213 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1996 car does 19. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1995 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1994 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1992 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1991 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1990 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1989 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1988 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1987 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1986 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1985 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1984 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 13 EPA ratings of the Nissan 300ZX — 1 engine across 1984–1996. 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 $3,746. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Nissan 300ZX get?
18.8 mpg combined on average — 16.5 in the city and 22.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1996.
How much does a Nissan 300ZX cost in fuel per year?
About $2,043 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,215 over five years, or 0.170 dollars a mile.
Which 300ZX engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 18.8 mpg.
Is the 300ZX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world 300ZX 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 300ZX is $3,746 against the $2,043 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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