The Suzuki Samurai does 25 mpg combined (23.8 city, 26.3 highway), which works out to about $1,536 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 Suzuki Samurai engine, compared
The Suzuki Samurai 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 4-cyl | 23.8 / 26.3 | 1986–1995 | $1,536 |
What that actually costs
The Suzuki Samurai burns a gallon every 25 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 480 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.128 |
| Fuel per year | $1,536 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,680 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$42 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,500 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Suzuki Samurai gives up 2.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.3 out there against 23.8 in town, a 11% drop worth $153 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 | 23.8 mpg | $1,613 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.3 mpg | $1,460 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2.5 mpg (11%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Samurai changed over the years
Combined figure across the 10 model years the Samurai was rated in, all of them at 25 mpg. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1994 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1993 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1992 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1991 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1990 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1989 | 24 / 26 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1988 | 24 / 27 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1987 | 23 / 27 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1986 | 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 10 EPA ratings of the Suzuki Samurai — 1 engine across 1986–1995. 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 $2,500. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Suzuki Samurai get?
25 mpg combined on average — 23.8 in the city and 26.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1986–1995.
How much does a Suzuki Samurai cost in fuel per year?
About $1,536 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,680 over five years, or 0.128 dollars a mile.
Which Samurai engine is the most economical?
The 1.3L 4-cyl at 25 mpg.
Is the Samurai 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 Samurai figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Suzuki Samurai is $2,500 against the $1,536 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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