Chrysler PT Cruiser Gas Mileage

The retro-styled Chrysler PT Cruiser, first introduced in 2001, is an American icon. PT Cruiser gas mileage ratings typically range from the mid to high twenties on the highway, depending on the engine configuration. City gas mileage ratings fall below 20 miles per gallon (MPG) in some models. Although the PT Cruiser it is not available with AWD, it’s classified as a compact SUV. The PT Cruiser went through a minor cosmetic redesign in the 2006 model year.

The limited edition 2008 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Edition (shown above) features “Sunset Crystal” paint, extra brightwork, 16-inch chrome nine-spoke wheels, and special interior trim. The domestic 2008 PT Cruiser is available with two engine choices based on a sixteen-valve DOHC 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine. The turbocharged version is rated at 180 horsepower (HP) on premium fuel, while the naturally aspirated version is rated at 150 HP on regular. An economical 2.2 liter common rail diesel (CRD) engine is available in the PT Cruiser overseas. It is highly unlikely that the CRD will ever be available in a domestic PT Cruiser, however, as the model is nearing the end of its run.



PT Cruiser Gas Mileage – 2001-2010

Year Manf. Model Engine Disp. Fuel Trans. City Hwy
2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter G (A4) Auto 19 24
2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 19 24
2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 18 24
2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 21 26
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 21 26
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 18 24
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 20 25
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 19 24
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 19 24
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 20 25
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 18 24
2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 21 26
2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2007 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2007 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2007 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2007 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2006 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2006 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2006 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2006 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2005 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2005 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2005 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2005 CHRYSLER PTCRUISER CONV/CABRIO 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 26
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 21 26
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 20 25
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 21 29
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (L4) Auto 19 25
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter P (M5) Manual 21 27
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 21 29
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 19 25
2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 20 25
2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 20 26

Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.

– by

14 thoughts on “Chrysler PT Cruiser Gas Mileage”

  1. I have a 2006 PT Cruiser. My gas mileage is only 14.5 city 19 highway. I have 2.4 turbo eng. How do I get better gas mileage???

  2. @Allen – Start by making sure that everything is correct mechanically. Set the tire pressure and change your air filter, if necessary.

    The biggest boost in gas mileage comes with a change in driving habits. To get the highest MPGs, you have to lay off the gas pedal, whenever possible. The more quickly you learn to drive with your foot off the gas, the faster your mileage will climb.

    This article should get you started in the right direction:
    http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/09/08/a-simple-method-to-increase-gas-mileage/

  3. I have a 2004 pt cruiser with 2.4 engine,150 hp,auto trans. When I leave the traffic light almost every one tries to run over me, why are these cars so slow? I hear they have the same engine as the Dodge Mini van. Even the pt cruiser with turbo can’t keep up with the Honda Civic, it’s a shame.

  4. I just bought α 2001 PT cruiser and im absolutely chuffed and satisifed with how it runs and handles the road with ease.
    I used to be quite heavy lead-footed prior to purchasing this recent car, I nowadays go slower and am much more careful and conscious of my surroundings. Not only that, it’s to keep my son and other loved ones safe in my car. ツ
    Cheers.

  5. I love to drive my pt cruiser..its so wonderfull..its faster than I thought. I feel safe.. it drives really good… it looks like a 6 cil car.. tks cheersss

  6. i have a 02 pt woody the gas milage is alfull i think we have dump trucks that almost grt as good i cant believe chy. sold as many of this gas hogs as they did my friend has a 06 he said it was the same way what wrong with this neon based car

  7. I own a 2008 Pt Cruiser 4 cyl automatic with typical low gas mileage for a 4 cyl, I had a 2008 Chrysler Seibring 4 cyl that got approx 20mpg city and I know 30+mpg highway, so why cant chrysler see this and use the same 4 cyl and transaxle in both.

  8. Have a question. What SIZE is the tank on a 2005 PT Cruiser. I ask cause I’m looking at getting one and want to know about how much I can highway drive it on long trips. The vehicle has low mileage, but this may help make my decision knowing how far I can drive.

  9. i just got an 01 pt cruiser le and am so satisfied runs very smooth fairly good pick-up and i’ve been getting between 25-28 miles per gallon that is a mix of city and highway but i was totaly impressed

  10. I’ve had my 2001 PT Cruiser LE automatic 17.69 MPG/13.27 L100KM, since Feb 2012, and I had to replace the rad fluid, rad cap, thermostat 2x (never buy Canadian Tire’s Failsafe thermostat they lock open) fan relays, fan fuse, fan motor, and the big one the computer that was expensive (they order it from company with your cars vin so it maches the engine code or it won’t work), ive put in K&N filter, and iridium plugs, no real diffrence in MPG ?

  11. 6 mo ago, I bought a 2004 PT Cruiser that gets HORRIBLE gas mileage. Averaged 11.2 mi/Imp gal. for the first 6 weeks.
    So I had a tuneup (plugs, air filter, o2 sensors both, compression 185 min, oil change, new timing belt, replace leaking seals, test with analyzer, etc) Average mileage went up to 14mpg.
    I asked around & found a shop that “knew what they were doing with their analyzer” They had it for 2 days & checked everything that they could think of. Their analyzer (updated to 2012) showed everything within parameters! Average mileage now 16 mpg.
    As a comparison, the 89 Ford Ranger pickup (2.9 V6, 5 spd) I had previously in exactly the same duty service was getting 19-23 mpg.
    There’s got to be something that I can do to get consumption back into a reasonable range.
    Any help would help! Thanks.
    Gus03

  12. @Gus03 – You made a good bit of ground with the tune up, but that’s still a big drop. What type of driving? What percentage city vs. highway? It sounds like you might be running a delivery route or carrying weight?

    You’ve taken care of the engine basics. There could be any number of contributing causes. Lots of things create drag. A/C units will cause a big penalty when running … and possibly when they’re not. Dragging brakes and poor alignment will have a negative impact. Wheel bearings might cause drag. Something flapping around underneath the car will cause drag at speed.

  13. Recently purchased a 2003 PT Cruiser with ONLY 24,000 miles (belonged to an elderly lady, now passed). Great Price! It’s an automatic, 4 cyl Turbo. I understand I need to use higher octane gasoline. Would that be 89 or 93 grade?
    Other than gas mileage I do love how the car drives ! Great sound system too…

  14. @Sue – Turbocharged engines like high octane. Best bet is to check the owners manual. Spec might be 93, but it might run fine with a bit lower. You could try filling up with 93, then fill again at half a tank with a lower grade.

Leave a Comment