1985 Dodge Charger: MPG and fuel economy
The 1985 Dodge Charger is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 30 combined MPG, with 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Subcompact Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1985 Dodge Charger. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 9 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 37% better combined MPG than the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1985 model year (21.9 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1985 model year is the Honda Civic at 34 MPG.
- The Dodge Charger has lost 7 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1984 Dodge Charger at 30 MPG. That is often a sign of larger engines or heavier curb weights in newer generations.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1985 Dodge Charger. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 9 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 30 MPG |
| City MPG | 26 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 36 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,000 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 296 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 1985 Dodge Charger compares
The 1985 Dodge Charger returns 30 combined MPG. Cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year average 21.9 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 37%.
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1985 model year is the Honda Civic at 34 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Dodge Charger alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1985 model year (across all classes) returns 19.7 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 1985 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 1985
The EPA rates 9 separate variants of the 1985 Dodge Charger. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
The most efficient configuration on this page returns 30 MPG, while the least efficient returns 20 MPG. That is a spread of 10 MPG between trims of the same nameplate.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L, 4-cyl, Manual 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 MPG | 26 MPG | 36 MPG | $2,000 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 MPG | 23 MPG | 33 MPG | $2,200 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | 33 MPG | $2,300 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 MPG | 22 MPG | 31 MPG | $2,400 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 MPG | 21 MPG | 26 MPG | $2,600 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 18 MPG | 27 MPG | $3,300 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 18 MPG | 27 MPG | $3,300 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, turbo, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 MPG | 17 MPG | 26 MPG | $3,450 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 MPG | 18 MPG | 23 MPG | $3,000 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 500 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,000 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,000 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,333 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Dodge Charger
The EPA has rated the Dodge Charger across 22 model years, from 1984 Dodge Charger through 2023 Dodge Charger. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 1984 Dodge Charger returned 30 MPG. The most recent 2023 Dodge Charger returns 23 MPG. That is a drop of 7 MPG over 39 model years. Newer trims that grow heavier or carry larger engines tend to lose efficiency even as the rest of the lineup improves.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 23 MPG | 2023 Dodge Charger |
| 2022 | 23 MPG | 2022 Dodge Charger |
| 2021 | 23 MPG | 2021 Dodge Charger |
| 2020 | 23 MPG | 2020 Dodge Charger |
| 2019 | 23 MPG | 2019 Dodge Charger |
| 2018 | 23 MPG | 2018 Dodge Charger |
| 2017 | 23 MPG | 2017 Dodge Charger |
| 2016 | 23 MPG | 2016 Dodge Charger |
| 2015 | 23 MPG | 2015 Dodge Charger |
| 2014 | 23 MPG | 2014 Dodge Charger |
| 2013 | 23 MPG | 2013 Dodge Charger |
| 2012 | 23 MPG | 2012 Dodge Charger |
| 2011 | 21 MPG | 2011 Dodge Charger |
| 2010 | 21 MPG | 2010 Dodge Charger |
| 2009 | 21 MPG | 2009 Dodge Charger |
| 2008 | 21 MPG | 2008 Dodge Charger |
| 2007 | 21 MPG | 2007 Dodge Charger |
| 2006 | 21 MPG | 2006 Dodge Charger |
| 1987 | 26 MPG | 1987 Dodge Charger |
| 1986 | 30 MPG | 1986 Dodge Charger |
| 1985 | 30 MPG | this page |
| 1984 | 30 MPG | 1984 Dodge Charger |
Compare against other Subcompact Cars for 1985
If you are cross-shopping the 1985 Dodge Charger, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Nissan Sentra leads this group at 40 MPG, 10 MPG ahead of the 1985 Dodge Charger.
Specifications
The 1985 Dodge Charger runs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a manual 4-spd, sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Subcompact Cars
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Manual 4-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 9.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1985 Dodge Charger
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1985 Dodge Charger.
-
Is the 1985 Dodge Charger fuel efficient?
Yes. The 1985 Dodge Charger returns 30 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year by about 37%. -
What MPG does the 1985 Dodge Charger get?
The EPA rates the 1985 Dodge Charger at 30 combined MPG, 26 MPG in city driving, and 36 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 1985 Dodge Charger per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,000 for the 1985 Dodge Charger. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 1985 Dodge Charger use?
The EPA lists the 1985 Dodge Charger as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Dodge Charger become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has actually slipped. The first EPA-rated Dodge Charger, the 1984 Dodge Charger, returned 30 MPG, while the most recent 2023 Dodge Charger returns 23 MPG. A drop of 7 MPG usually traces back to bigger engines or heavier curb weights in newer trims. -
How much CO₂ does the 1985 Dodge Charger emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 296 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 4,444 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1985 Dodge Charger?
City driving returns 26 MPG and highway driving returns 36 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 1985 Dodge Charger?
The 1985 Dodge Charger has a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: (FFS)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1985 Dodge Charger have?
The 1985 Dodge Charger comes with a manual 4-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 1985 Dodge Charger compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1985 model year is the Honda Civic at 34 combined MPG. The Dodge Charger returns 30 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.