The Renault Alliance does 32.3 mpg combined (29.3 city, 36.8 highway), which works out to about $1,189 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Renault Alliance engine, compared
The Renault Alliance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl | 29.3 / 36.8 | 1984–1987 | $1,189 |
What that actually costs
The Renault Alliance burns a gallon every 32.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 372 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.099 |
| Fuel per year | $1,189 |
| Fuel over five years | $5,945 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$305 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,938 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Renault Alliance gives up 7.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 36.8 out there against 29.3 in town, a 26% drop worth $268 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 | 29.3 mpg | $1,311 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 36.8 mpg | $1,043 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.5 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the Alliance changed over the years
The Alliance peaked in 1986 at 33 mpg (30 city, 37 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1987 at 32 — 1 mpg apart, or $36 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1987 car does 32. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 1986 | 30 / 37 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1985 | 29 / 36 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 1984 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the Renault Alliance — 1 engine across 1984–1987. 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 $1,938. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Renault Alliance get?
32.3 mpg combined on average — 29.3 in the city and 36.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1987.
How much does a Renault Alliance cost in fuel per year?
About $1,189 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $5,945 over five years, or 0.099 dollars a mile.
Which Alliance engine is the most economical?
The 1.4L 4-cyl at 32.3 mpg.
Is the Alliance good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Alliance figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Renault Alliance is $1,938 against the $1,189 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.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.