- Newest year: 2005
- Gas
- Small cars
2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG & Fuel Cost
6 model years · 21–27 MPG combined
15,000 mi/yr · regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026)
Cheaper to fuel than 9 of 10 small car configurations, MY2005. Ranked against all rated configurations, not sales-weighted.
2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier at a glance
The 2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier covers 6 model years in the EPA database (26 configurations in all), rated 21–27 MPG combined. The newest model year, 2005, costs about $2,510 a year to fuel for its most efficient version, the Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD (26 MPG), at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026). Powertrains over the years: gas and natural gas. EPA changed the ratings in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The best combined rating in the generation, 27 MPG, was reached in 2004.
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier by model year
| Model year | Powertrains | Combined | $/yr | EPA ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gas | 25–26 MPG | $2,510–$2,610 | Ratings changed |
| 2004 | Gas, Natural gas | 25–27 MPG, 24 MPGe | $2,420–$2,610 | Ratings changed |
| 2003 | Gas, Natural gas | 25 MPG, 24 MPGe | $2,610 | Ratings changed |
| 2002 | Gas, Natural gas | 21–25 MPG, 23 MPGe | $2,610–$3,110 | Ratings changed |
| 2001 | Gas, Natural gas | 21–24 MPG, 23 MPGe | $2,720–$3,110 | Ratings changed |
| 2000 | Gas, Natural gas | 22–24 MPG, 22 MPGe | $2,720–$2,970 | First year |
What the 2005 Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD costs to drive
Per month
$209
$2,510 a year ÷ 12
Per 25 miles
$4.18
Per 100 miles
$16.73
Five years
$12,550
5 × the yearly cost, prices held at today's level
vs the small car median
$1,140less a year
Class median $3,650 a year, MY2005
Based on 15,000 miles a year and regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).
2005 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Versus 2004: The most efficient configuration moves from 27 to 26 MPG, down 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,420 to $2,510, $90 more.
Gas configurations (2)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 23 | 33 | 26 | $2,510 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 31 | 25 | $2,610 |
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
25–27 MPG, 24 MPGe · $2,420–$2,610/yr
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Versus 2003: The most efficient configuration moves from 25 to 27 MPG, up 2. Its annual cost goes from $2,610 to $2,420, $190 less.
No fuel cost is shown for this fuel.
See natural gas configurationsGas configurations (2)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 23 | 33 | 27 | $2,420 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 31 | 25 | $2,610 |
Natural gas configurations (1)
| Trim | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. MPGe | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-fuel (Most efficient) | FWD | 21 | 29 | 24 | — |
No fuel cost is shown: there is no comparable official retail price series for natural gas.
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
25 MPG, 24 MPGe · $2,610/yr
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Versus 2002: The most efficient configuration stays at 25 MPG. Its annual cost stays at $2,610.
No fuel cost is shown for this fuel.
See natural gas configurationsGas configurations (2)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd (Most efficient) | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 30 | 25 | $2,610 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,610 |
Natural gas configurations (1)
| Trim | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. MPGe | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-fuel (Most efficient) | FWD | 21 | 30 | 24 | — |
No fuel cost is shown: there is no comparable official retail price series for natural gas.
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
21–25 MPG, 23 MPGe · $2,610–$3,110/yr
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Versus 2001: The most efficient configuration moves from 24 to 25 MPG, up 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,720 to $2,610, $110 less.
No fuel cost is shown for this fuel.
See natural gas configurationsGas configurations (5)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,610 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 30 | 24 | $2,720 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 30 | 24 | $2,720 |
| Cavalier 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 2.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 19 | 29 | 23 | $2,840 |
| Cavalier 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,110 |
Natural gas configurations (1)
| Trim | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. MPGe | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-fuel (Most efficient) | FWD | 20 | 28 | 23 | — |
No fuel cost is shown: there is no comparable official retail price series for natural gas.
2001 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
21–24 MPG, 23 MPGe · $2,720–$3,110/yr
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Versus 2000: The most efficient configuration stays at 24 MPG. Its annual cost stays at $2,720.
No fuel cost is shown for this fuel.
See natural gas configurationsGas configurations (5)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd (Most efficient) | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,720 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 20 | 30 | 24 | $2,720 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 3-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,840 |
| Cavalier 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 2.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 19 | 29 | 23 | $2,840 |
| Cavalier 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,110 |
Natural gas configurations (1)
| Trim | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. MPGe | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Bi-fuel CNG) (Most efficient) | FWD | 20 | 28 | 23 | — |
No fuel cost is shown: there is no comparable official retail price series for natural gas.
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
22–24 MPG, 22 MPGe · $2,720–$2,970/yr
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
No fuel cost is shown for this fuel.
See natural gas configurationsGas configurations (5)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 31 | 24 | $2,720 |
| Cavalier 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 2.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 20 | 30 | 24 | $2,720 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 20 | 29 | 23 | $2,840 |
| Cavalier 2.4L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 2.4L 4-cyl | FWD | 19 | 28 | 23 | $2,840 |
| Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 3-spd | 2.2L 4-cyl | FWD | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,970 |
Natural gas configurations (1)
| Trim | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. MPGe | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Bi-fuel CNG) (Most efficient) | FWD | 20 | 25 | 22 | — |
No fuel cost is shown: there is no comparable official retail price series for natural gas.
Fuel cost by state
Yearly cost of the Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD: $3,420 in California and $2,190 in Texas, a $1,230 difference.
- California $3,420
- Washington $3,170
- New York $2,510
- Florida $2,370
- Texas $2,190
Similar cars
Closest combined MPG among MY2005 small car models.
Generations
- 2000-2005 (3rd gen)
Frequently asked questions
What gas mileage does the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier get?
EPA rates the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier at 21–27 MPG combined across 26 configurations and 6 model years. The most efficient version, the 2004 Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD, is rated 27 MPG (23 city, 33 highway). By powertrain: Gas: 21–27 MPG; Natural gas: 22–24 MPGe.
Which years had the best MPG in the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD reached the generation's best combined rating, 27 MPG, in 2004. The lowest top rating, 24 MPG, was in 2000 and 2001.
Did EPA ratings change during the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Yes. Ratings changed in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier per year?
Driving 15,000 miles a year at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), the Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,510 a year. Across all 2 configurations the cost runs $2,510–$2,610 a year. That is a $100 difference between the cheapest and the costliest configuration.
How much does it cost to drive a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier 100 miles?
About $16.73 per 100 miles for the Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), and between $16.73 and $17.40 across all configurations. That is the annual cost over 15,000 miles divided by 150.
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier more efficient in the city or on the highway?
The Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD is rated 23 city and 33 highway MPG, so it is more efficient on the highway, by 10 MPG.
How does the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier compare with other small car configurations?
The Cavalier 2.2L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,510 a year to fuel, $1,140 less than the class median of $3,650, and less than 9 of 10 small car configurations. The comparison covers all 370 rated small car configurations for MY2005, not weighted by sales.
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier different from the 2004 model?
The most efficient configuration moves from 27 to 26 MPG, down 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,420 to $2,510, $90 more. EPA lists 2 configurations for 2005 against 3 configurations for 2004. See the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier for that year.