The Toyota Starlet does 36 mpg combined (33 city, 40 highway), which works out to about $1,067 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 Toyota Starlet engine, compared
The Toyota Starlet 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 | 33 / 40 | 1984–1984 | $1,067 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Starlet burns a gallon every 36 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 333 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.089 |
| Fuel per year | $1,067 |
| Fuel over five years | $5,335 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$427 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,750 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Starlet gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 40 out there against 33 in town, a 21% drop worth $204 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 | 33 mpg | $1,164 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 40 mpg | $960 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (21%) | Typical for its type |
How the Starlet changed over the years
Combined figure across the 1 model year the Starlet was rated in, all of them at 36 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 33 / 40 | 1 | $1,067 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 1 EPA ratings of the Toyota Starlet — 1 engine across 1984–1984. 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 $1,750. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Starlet get?
36 mpg combined on average — 33 in the city and 40 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1984.
How much does a Toyota Starlet cost in fuel per year?
About $1,067 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $5,335 over five years, or 0.089 dollars a mile.
Which Starlet engine is the most economical?
The 1.3L 4-cyl at 36 mpg.
Is the Starlet 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 Starlet 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 Starlet is $1,750 against the $1,067 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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