Tank Ledger

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.

23best combined mpg (2008)
19worst combined mpg (2003)
21latest year best (2010)
32configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2001220 mpg20 mpg#13 of 45 (73th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2002222 mpg20 mpg#7 of 54 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2003422 mpg19 mpg#5 of 58 (93th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2004422 mpg19 mpg#3 of 60 (97th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2005422 mpg19 mpg#7 of 59 (90th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2006422 mpg19 mpg#10 of 62 (85th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2007422 mpg19 mpg#12 of 71 (84th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2008423 mpg21 mpg#14 of 76 (83th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2009323 mpg21 mpg#14 of 82 (84th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2010121 mpg21 mpg#33 of 80 (59th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSport 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.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20102.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20092.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20092.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged182421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20092.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
20082.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20082.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20082.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged202522522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20082.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
20072.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20072.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20072.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20072.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20062.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20062.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20062.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20062.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20052.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20052.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20052.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20052.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20042.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20042.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20042.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20042.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20032.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20032.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl172320575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
20032.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20032.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20022.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl172320575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
20022.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl192722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20012.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl172320575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
20012.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.4L 4-cyl182420575.014.9$3,100444.35n/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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2001 → 200220 → 22 mpg+2 mpg523 gal
2007 → 200822 → 23 mpg+1 mpg500 gal
2009 → 201023 → 21 mpg-2 mpg548 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$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.

Other Chrysler nameplates

Every Chrysler model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.