Chrysler PT Cruiser MPG by year — every rating on record
The Chrysler PT Cruiser has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 10 model years, from 2001 to 2010. Across those years its best rated version returned 23 mpg (2008) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (2003). The EPA record holds 32 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | #13 of 45 (73th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2002 | 2 | 22 mpg | 20 mpg | #7 of 54 (89th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2003 | 4 | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | #5 of 58 (93th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2004 | 4 | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | #3 of 60 (97th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2005 | 4 | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | #7 of 59 (90th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2006 | 4 | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | #10 of 62 (85th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2007 | 4 | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | #12 of 71 (84th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2008 | 4 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #14 of 76 (83th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium, Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2009 | 3 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #14 of 82 (84th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| 2010 | 1 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #33 of 80 (59th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Chrysler PT Cruiser placed highest in 2004 at #3 of 60, and lowest in 2010 at #33 of 80. It spent 10 of its 10 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2009 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2009 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2009 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2008 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 18 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2008 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2008 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 20 | 25 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2008 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2007 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2007 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2007 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 19 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2007 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2006 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2006 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2006 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 19 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2006 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2005 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2005 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2005 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 19 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2005 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2004 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2004 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2004 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 19 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2004 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2003 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2003 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 17 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2003 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 18 | 25 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2003 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2002 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 17 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2002 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2001 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 17 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2001 | 2.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.4L 4-cyl | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 → 2002 | 20 → 22 mpg | +2 mpg | 523 gal |
| 2007 → 2008 | 22 → 23 mpg | +1 mpg | 500 gal |
| 2009 → 2010 | 23 → 21 mpg | -2 mpg | 548 gal |
What PT Cruiser fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser burns 548 to 548 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 | $1,643 | $1,643 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,917 | $1,917 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,190 | $2,190 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2010 model year is $2,950 to $2,950 a year in fuel, or $3,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
Across the 140 nameplates EPA classifies as Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 21 mpg the Chrysler PT Cruiser is 1 mpg below the median, which is worth about $87 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Chrysler nameplates
Every Chrysler model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.