The Toyota Tercel does 31 mpg combined (28.4 city, 34.9 highway), which works out to about $1,239 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 Tercel engine, compared
The Toyota Tercel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 28.4 / 34.9 | 1984–1999 | $1,239 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Tercel burns a gallon every 31 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 387 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.103 |
| Fuel per year | $1,239 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,195 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$255 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,019 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Tercel gives up 6.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 34.9 out there against 28.4 in town, a 23% drop worth $252 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 | 28.4 mpg | $1,352 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 34.9 mpg | $1,100 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.5 mpg (23%) | Typical for its type |
How the Tercel changed over the years
The Tercel peaked in 1989 at 33 mpg (30 city, 37 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 29 — 4 mpg apart, or $160 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1999 car does 31. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 28 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 1998 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 1997 | 28 / 35 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 1996 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 1995 | 28 / 35 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 1994 | 27 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 1993 | 27 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 1992 | 27 / 33 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 1991 | 28 / 34 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 1990 | 27 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 1989 | 30 / 37 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1988 | 30 / 37 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1987 | 31 / 37 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1986 | 30 / 35 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 1985 | 30 / 35 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 1984 | 30 / 35 | 1 | $1,200 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 16 EPA ratings of the Toyota Tercel — 1 engine across 1984–1999. 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 $2,019. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Tercel get?
31 mpg combined on average — 28.4 in the city and 34.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1999.
How much does a Toyota Tercel cost in fuel per year?
About $1,239 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,195 over five years, or 0.103 dollars a mile.
Which Tercel engine is the most economical?
The 1.5L 4-cyl at 31 mpg.
Is the Tercel 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 Tercel 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 Tercel is $2,019 against the $1,239 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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