The Renault Fuego does 23.3 mpg combined (20.3 city, 28.7 highway), which works out to about $1,648 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl does 23.5 mpg while 2.2L 4-cyl does 23 — a difference of $36 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Renault Fuego engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Renault Fuego ranges from 23.5 down to 23 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $36 a year across 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 20.5 / 29 | 1984–1985 | $1,634 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 20 / 28 | 1986–1986 | $1,670 |
What that actually costs
The Renault Fuego burns a gallon every 23.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 515 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.137 |
| Fuel per year | $1,648 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,240 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$154 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,883 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Renault Fuego gives up 8.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.7 out there against 20.3 in town, a 41% drop worth $554 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 | 20.3 mpg | $1,892 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.7 mpg | $1,338 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.4 mpg (41%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Fuego changed over the years
The Fuego peaked in 1984 at 24 mpg (21 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1986 at 23 — 1 mpg apart, or $70 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1986 car does 23.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1985 | 20 / 29 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1984 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Renault Fuego — 2 engines across 1984–1986. 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 $2,883. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Renault Fuego get?
23.3 mpg combined on average — 20.3 in the city and 28.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1986.
How much does a Renault Fuego cost in fuel per year?
About $1,648 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,240 over five years, or 0.137 dollars a mile.
Which Fuego engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 23.5 mpg, against 23 for the 2.2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $36 a year.
Is the Fuego 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 Fuego 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 Fuego is $2,883 against the $1,648 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 and 23 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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