The Peugeot 505 does 20.5 mpg combined (18.5 city, 22.8 highway), which works out to about $1,873 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.3L 4-cyl does 25 mpg while 2.9L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $597 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Peugeot 505 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Peugeot 505 ranges from 25 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $597 a year across 5 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 23 / 27 | 1984–1984 | $1,536 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 23 / 28.3 | 1985–1987 | $1,536 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 17 / 19.5 | 1988–1992 | $2,076 | |
| 2.1L 4-cyl | 16 / 20.7 | 1989–1991 | $2,098 | |
| 2.9L 6-cyl | 16 / 20 | 1987–1989 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Peugeot 505 burns a gallon every 20.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 585 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.156 |
| Fuel per year | $1,873 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,365 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$379 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,667 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Peugeot 505 gives up 4.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.8 out there against 18.5 in town, a 23% drop worth $392 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 | 18.5 mpg | $2,076 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.8 mpg | $1,684 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.3 mpg (23%) | Typical for its type |
How the 505 changed over the years
The 505 peaked in 1986 at 26 mpg (24 city, 30 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1992 at 18 — 8 mpg apart, or $656 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1992 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 17 / 19 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1991 | 16 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 16 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1989 | 16 / 21 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1988 | 16.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1987 | 18.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1986 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1985 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1984 | 23 / 27 | 1 | $1,536 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 12 EPA ratings of the Peugeot 505 — 5 engines across 1984–1992. 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 $3,667. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Peugeot 505 get?
20.5 mpg combined on average — 18.5 in the city and 22.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1992.
How much does a Peugeot 505 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,873 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,365 over five years, or 0.156 dollars a mile.
Which 505 engine is the most economical?
The 2.3L 4-cyl at 25 mpg, against 18 for the 2.9L 6-cyl — a difference of about $597 a year.
Is the 505 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 505 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Peugeot 505 is $3,667 against the $1,873 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 26 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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