Tank Ledger

Dodge Colt MPG by year — every rating on record

The Dodge Colt has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 1984 to 1994. Across those years its best rated version returned 34 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 55 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

34best combined mpg (1984)
22worst combined mpg (1985)
31latest year best (1994)
55configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984834 mpg25 mpg#8 of 57 (88th pct)n/aRegularSubcompact Cars
1985934 mpg22 mpg#6 of 57 (91th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
1986533 mpg22 mpg#9 of 59 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
1987531 mpg22 mpg#10 of 72 (87th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
1988531 mpg22 mpg#12 of 60 (81th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1989430 mpg23 mpg#18 of 71 (76th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumSubcompact Cars
1990529 mpg23 mpg#13 of 65 (81th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1991329 mpg26 mpg#12 of 73 (85th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1992329 mpg26 mpg#13 of 69 (82th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1993431 mpg26 mpg#10 of 64 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1994431 mpg26 mpg#9 of 56 (85th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Dodge Colt placed highest in 1985 at #6 of 57, and lowest in 1989 at #18 of 71. It spent 11 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 55 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19941.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19941.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularSOHC-4 (FFS)233026442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19941.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularSOHC-4 (FFS)233026442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19941.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)283531371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19931.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularSOHC-4 (FFS)233126442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19931.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularSOHC-4 (FFS)233126442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19931.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)253027425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19931.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)283631371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19921.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19921.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)253228410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19921.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)273329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19911.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19911.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)253228410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19911.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)273329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19901.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19901.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19901.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)232725460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19901.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)243127425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19901.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)273329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19891.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212723500.012.9$3,350386.39130434782606n/a
19891.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)242826442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19891.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)263228410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19891.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)283530383.39.9$2,100296.23333333333335n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212422522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19881.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)262927425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19881.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)273430383.39.9$2,100296.23333333333335n/a
19881.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)293531371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212422522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged222925460.011.9$3,100355.48n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)253027425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)273430383.39.9$2,100296.23333333333335n/a
19871.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)293431371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212422522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212824479.212.4$3,250370.2916666666667n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)252927425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)283531371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19861.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)313733348.59.0$1,900269.3030303030303n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(CALIF) (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212422522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212422522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212824479.212.4$3,250370.2916666666667n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(CALIF) (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged212824479.212.4$3,250370.2916666666667n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)262927425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model252927425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)273530383.39.9$2,100296.23333333333335n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model313633348.59.0$1,900269.3030303030303n/a
19851.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)313734338.28.8$1,850261.38235294117646n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged232825460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular(FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged232825460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19841.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular(FFS) CA model283430383.39.9$2,100296.23333333333335n/a
19841.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular(FFS)283431371.09.6$2,000286.6774193548387n/a
19841.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model303733348.59.0$1,900269.3030303030303n/a
19841.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)313734338.28.8$1,850261.38235294117646n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 5 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1985 → 198634 → 33 mpg-1 mpg348 gal
1986 → 198733 → 31 mpg-2 mpg371 gal
1988 → 198931 → 30 mpg-1 mpg383 gal
1989 → 199030 → 29 mpg-1 mpg397 gal
1992 → 199329 → 31 mpg+2 mpg371 gal

What Colt fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1994 Dodge Colt burns 371 to 442 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$1,113$1,327$214
$3.50/gal$1,298$1,548$250
$4.00/gal$1,484$1,769$285

EPA’s own estimate for the 1994 model year is $2,000 to $2,400 a year in fuel, or $750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 31 mpg the Dodge Colt is 7 mpg better the median, which is worth about $379 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Dodge nameplates

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