Chevrolet Prizm MPG by year — every rating on record
The Chevrolet Prizm has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1998 to 2002. Across those years its best rated version returned 31 mpg (2001) and its thirstiest returned 26 mpg (1998). The EPA record holds 15 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3 | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | #4 of 47 (93th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1999 | 3 | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | #6 of 50 (90th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2000 | 3 | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | #4 of 50 (94th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2001 | 3 | 31 mpg | 27 mpg | #5 of 62 (93th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2002 | 3 | 31 mpg | 27 mpg | #5 of 64 (94th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Chevrolet Prizm placed highest in 1998 at #4 of 47, and lowest in 1999 at #6 of 50. It spent 5 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 15 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 30 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 2002 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 2002 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 27 | 37 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 2001 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 30 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 2001 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 2001 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 27 | 37 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 2000 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 2000 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 2000 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 27 | 34 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1999 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1999 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 32 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1999 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1998 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1998 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 32 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1998 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 27 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 → 2000 | 29 → 30 mpg | +1 mpg | 383 gal |
| 2000 → 2001 | 30 → 31 mpg | +1 mpg | 371 gal |
What Prizm fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm burns 371 to 426 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,113 | $1,278 | $165 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,298 | $1,491 | $192 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,484 | $1,704 | $220 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2002 model year is $2,000 to $2,300 a year in fuel, or $250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 31 mpg the Chevrolet Prizm is 5 mpg better the median, which is worth about $250 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Chevrolet nameplates
Every Chevrolet model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.