The Volkswagen EuroVan does 15.7 mpg combined (14.2 city, 18.1 highway), which works out to about $2,446 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 5-cyl does 16.3 mpg while 2.8L 6-cyl does 15.3 — a difference of $154 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Volkswagen EuroVan engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Volkswagen EuroVan ranges from 16.3 down to 15.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $154 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 14.7 / 18.7 | 1993–1995 | $2,356 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 14 / 17.8 | 1997–2003 | $2,510 |
What that actually costs
The Volkswagen EuroVan burns a gallon every 15.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 764 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.204 |
| Fuel per year | $2,446 |
| Fuel over five years | $12,230 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$516 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,089 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Volkswagen EuroVan gives up 3.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 18.1 out there against 14.2 in town, a 27% drop worth $582 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 | 14.2 mpg | $2,704 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 18.1 mpg | $2,122 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.9 mpg (27%) | Typical for its type |
How the EuroVan changed over the years
The EuroVan peaked in 1994 at 17 mpg (15 city, 19 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1997 at 14 — 3 mpg apart, or $484 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2003 car does 16. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 15 / 18 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 18 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 18 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2000 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1999 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1997 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1995 | 14 / 17 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1994 | 15 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1993 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 9 EPA ratings of the Volkswagen EuroVan — 2 engines across 1993–2003. 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 $4,089. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Volkswagen EuroVan get?
15.7 mpg combined on average — 14.2 in the city and 18.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1993–2003.
How much does a Volkswagen EuroVan cost in fuel per year?
About $2,446 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,230 over five years, or 0.204 dollars a mile.
Which EuroVan engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 5-cyl at 16.3 mpg, against 15.3 for the 2.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $154 a year.
Is the EuroVan good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world EuroVan figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Volkswagen EuroVan is $4,089 against the $2,446 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 17 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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