Mazda MX-5 — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
The world's best-selling two-seater sports car. Light, engaging driving dynamics, and highly respectable real-world fuel economy.
TL;DR
38 MPG
Real-world petrol
45L
Tank capacity
£61.56
Full tank (petrol)
16.4p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Mazda MX-5 achieves an estimated 38 MPG in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 45-litre tank completely costs approximately £61.56 at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
38
Real-world MPG
Petrol
44.8
Official WLTP
Petrol
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol |
|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £818 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £1211 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £1637 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £2455 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £3273 |
| Full tank (45L) | £61.56 |
| Cost per mile | 16.4p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the MX-5 compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your MX-5
The MX-5 is extremely lightweight; driving smoothly yields surprisingly high MPG.
Upshift early on casual cruises to keep engine revs down.
Keep the convertible roof closed on high-speed roads to minimize aerodynamic drag.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Mazda MX-5 achieving ~38 MPG real-world, if you fill 36 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£3.60
Gross saving on fuel
£0.49
Cost of 3-mile detour
£3.11
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 22 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Mazda MX-5?
The Mazda MX-5 achieves approximately 38 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 44.8 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around N/A MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Mazda MX-5?
The Mazda MX-5 has a fuel tank of 45 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £61.56. Diesel costs approximately £63.95 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Mazda MX-5?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Mazda MX-5 costs approximately £1211 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1637. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Mazda MX-5?
In a Mazda MX-5 doing ~38 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 36-litre fill nets approximately £3.11 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 22 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Mazda MX-5 cost per mile in fuel?
The Mazda MX-5 costs approximately 16.4p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £4.92 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Mazda MX-5?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Mazda MX-5 is 44.8 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
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