The Toyota Celica does 25.1 mpg combined (22.5 city, 29.1 highway), which works out to about $1,530 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.8L 4-cyl does 27.5 mpg while 2.8L 6-cyl does 19 — a difference of $625 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Toyota Celica engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota Celica ranges from 27.5 down to 19 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $625 a year across 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 24.6 / 31.9 | 1994–2005 | $1,396 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 23 / 29.5 | 1990–1993 | $1,506 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22.5 / 29.3 | 1986–1989 | $1,536 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 / 27 | 1984–1985 | $1,634 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 20 / 27 | 1998–1999 | $1,670 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 17.3 / 22 | 1984–1986 | $2,021 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Celica burns a gallon every 25.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 478 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.127 |
| Fuel per year | $1,530 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,650 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$36 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,576 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Celica gives up 6.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 29.1 out there against 22.5 in town, a 29% drop worth $387 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 | 22.5 mpg | $1,707 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29.1 mpg | $1,320 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.6 mpg (29%) | Typical for its type |
How the Celica changed over the years
The Celica peaked in 2005 at 28 mpg (25 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1984 at 21 — 7 mpg apart, or $458 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2005 car does 28. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2004 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2003 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2002 | 25 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2001 | 25 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2000 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1999 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1998 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1997 | 25 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1996 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1995 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 1994 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1993 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1992 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1991 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1990 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1989 | 23 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1988 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 1987 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 1986 | 19.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1985 | 19 / 25 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 1984 | 19.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 25 EPA ratings of the Toyota Celica — 6 engines across 1984–2005. 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 $2,576. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Celica get?
25.1 mpg combined on average — 22.5 in the city and 29.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2005.
How much does a Toyota Celica cost in fuel per year?
About $1,530 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,650 over five years, or 0.127 dollars a mile.
Which Celica engine is the most economical?
The 1.8L 4-cyl at 27.5 mpg, against 19 for the 2.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $625 a year.
Is the Celica 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 Celica figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Toyota Celica is $2,576 against the $1,530 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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