Tank Ledger

Jeep CJ7 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Jeep CJ7 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 1984 to 1986. Across those years its best rated version returned 21 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 15 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 26 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Special Purpose Vehicles.

21best combined mpg (1984)
15worst combined mpg (1985)
18latest year best (1986)
26configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
19841221 mpg16 mpg#8 of 23 (68th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD
1985918 mpg15 mpg#13 of 25 (50th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicles
1986518 mpg15 mpg#17 of 27 (38th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicles

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Jeep CJ7 placed highest in 1984 at #8 of 23, and lowest in 1986 at #17 of 27. It spent 2 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 26 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19864.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)151715766.719.8$4,150592.4666666666667n/a
19864.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)151816718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19862.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)161717676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19864.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19862.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)171918638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19854.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)151715766.719.8$4,150592.4666666666667n/a
19854.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)151816718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19854.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model151716718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19854.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model161717676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model161817676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19854.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model151917676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)171918638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19852.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)171918638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19844.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)151716718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19844.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model151716718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19844.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model151816718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19844.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)161817676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19844.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)162017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19844.2L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model161917676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)182320575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)(SIL) CA model182220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model182220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)(SIL)192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)192321547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19842.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model192321547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198521 → 18 mpg-3 mpg639 gal

What CJ7 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1986 Jeep CJ7 burns 639 to 767 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$1,917$2,300$383
$3.50/gal$2,236$2,683$447
$4.00/gal$2,556$3,067$511

EPA’s own estimate for the 1986 model year is $3,450 to $4,150 a year in fuel, or $6,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Special Purpose Vehicles

Across the 113 nameplates EPA classifies as Special Purpose Vehicles, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 18 mpg the Jeep CJ7 is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $319 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Jeep nameplates

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