Tank Ledger

Mitsubishi Space Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Mitsubishi Space Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 8 model years, from 1984 to 1991. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1989). The EPA record holds 12 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.

24best combined mpg (1984)
19worst combined mpg (1989)
20latest year best (1991)
12configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984324 mpg22 mpg#15 of 18 (18th pct)n/aRegularSmall Station Wagons
1985122 mpg22 mpg#16 of 18 (12th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1986121 mpg21 mpg#16 of 18 (12th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1987221 mpg21 mpg#16 of 20 (21th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1988121 mpg21 mpg#21 of 25 (17th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1989220 mpg19 mpg#19 of 19 (0th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons, Special Purpose Vehicles
1990120 mpg20 mpg#16 of 16 (0th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons
1991120 mpg20 mpg#13 of 13 (0th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Mitsubishi Space Wagon placed highest in 1991 at #13 of 13, and lowest in 1988 at #21 of 25. It spent 0 of its 8 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 12 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19912.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(SOHC) (FFS)192220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19902.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)172319605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19892.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)192220575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19882.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202221547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) 2 barrel carb202221547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19872.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) fuel injection202221547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19862.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)202221547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19852.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212422522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)212823500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19842.0L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular(FFS)222624479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198524 → 22 mpg-2 mpg523 gal
1985 → 198622 → 21 mpg-1 mpg548 gal
1988 → 198921 → 20 mpg-1 mpg575 gal

What Space Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1991 Mitsubishi Space Wagon burns 575 to 575 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$1,725$1,725$0
$3.50/gal$2,013$2,013$0
$4.00/gal$2,300$2,300$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 1991 model year is $3,100 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $4,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Small Station Wagons

Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 20 mpg the Mitsubishi Space Wagon is 7 mpg below the median, which is worth about $522 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Mitsubishi nameplates

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