Plymouth Colt MPG by year — every rating on record
The Plymouth 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 52 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 8 | 34 mpg | 25 mpg | #10 of 57 (84th pct) | n/a | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1985 | 6 | 33 mpg | 22 mpg | #9 of 57 (86th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1986 | 5 | 33 mpg | 22 mpg | #11 of 59 (83th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1987 | 5 | 31 mpg | 22 mpg | #13 of 72 (83th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1988 | 5 | 31 mpg | 22 mpg | #14 of 60 (78th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1989 | 4 | 30 mpg | 23 mpg | #20 of 71 (73th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1990 | 5 | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | #16 of 65 (77th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1991 | 3 | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | #15 of 73 (81th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1992 | 3 | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | #17 of 69 (76th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1993 | 4 | 31 mpg | 26 mpg | #13 of 64 (81th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1994 | 4 | 31 mpg | 26 mpg | #12 of 56 (80th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Plymouth Colt placed highest in 1985 at #9 of 57, and lowest in 1989 at #20 of 71. It spent 11 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | SOHC-4 (FFS) | 23 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SOHC-4 (FFS) | 23 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 28 | 35 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | SOHC-4 (FFS) | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SOHC-4 (FFS) | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 25 | 30 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 28 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 25 | 32 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | SOHC (FFS) | 27 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 25 | 32 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 27 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 31 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 28 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 32 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 28 | 35 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 29 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 34 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 29 | 35 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $3,100 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 25 | 30 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 34 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 29 | 34 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $3,250 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 25 | 29 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 28 | 35 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 31 | 37 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Premium | (CALIF) (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $3,250 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (CALIF) (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $3,250 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 27 | 35 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 31 | 36 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular | (FFS,TRBO), turbocharged | 23 | 28 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular | (FFS,TRBO) CA model, turbocharged | 23 | 28 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular | (FFS) CA model | 28 | 34 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Doubled Regular | (FFS) | 28 | 34 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286.6774193548387 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 30 | 37 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1984 | 1.4L 4-cyl Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 31 | 37 | 34 | 338.2 | 8.8 | $1,850 | 261.38235294117646 | n/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.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 → 1985 | 34 → 33 mpg | -1 mpg | 348 gal |
| 1986 → 1987 | 33 → 31 mpg | -2 mpg | 371 gal |
| 1988 → 1989 | 31 → 30 mpg | -1 mpg | 383 gal |
| 1989 → 1990 | 30 → 29 mpg | -1 mpg | 397 gal |
| 1992 → 1993 | 29 → 31 mpg | +2 mpg | 371 gal |
What Colt fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1994 Plymouth 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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 Plymouth Colt is 7 mpg better the median, which is worth about $379 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Plymouth nameplates
Every Plymouth model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.