- Newest year: 2000
- Gas
- Small cars
2000 Mazda Protege MPG & Fuel Cost
4 configurations · 23–27 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, MY2000. Ranked against all rated configurations, not sales-weighted.
2000 Mazda Protege at a glance
The 2000 Mazda Protege has 4 configurations in the EPA database, rated 23–27 MPG combined. The most efficient is the Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD at 27 MPG, which costs about $2,420 a year to fuel at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026). Annual fuel cost across the configurations runs from $2,420 to $2,840, a $420 difference. The Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD costs less to fuel than 9 of 10 small car configurations rated for MY2000 (class median $3,110 a year).
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
What the 2000 Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD costs to drive
Per month
$202
$2,420 a year ÷ 12
Per 25 miles
$4.03
Per 100 miles
$16.13
Five years
$12,100
5 × the yearly cost, prices held at today's level
vs the small car median
$690less a year
Class median $3,110 a year, MY2000
Based on 15,000 miles a year and regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).
2000 Mazda Protege MPG
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Gas configurations (4)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) | 1.6L 4-cyl | FWD | 25 | 31 | 27 | $2,420 |
| Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 1.6L 4-cyl | FWD | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,510 |
| Protege 1.8L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd | 1.8L 4-cyl | FWD | 22 | 28 | 25 | $2,610 |
| Protege 1.8L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd | 1.8L 4-cyl | FWD | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,840 |
Fuel cost by state
Yearly cost of the Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD: $3,290 in California and $2,110 in Texas, a $1,180 difference.
- California $3,290
- Washington $3,050
- New York $2,420
- Florida $2,290
- Texas $2,110
Similar cars
Closest combined MPG among MY2000 small car models.
Generations
- 2000
Frequently asked questions
What gas mileage does the 2000 Mazda Protege get?
EPA rates the 2000 Mazda Protege at 23–27 MPG combined across 4 configurations. The most efficient, the Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD, is rated 27 MPG combined (25 city / 31 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2000 Mazda Protege per year?
Driving 15,000 miles a year at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), the Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,420 a year. Across all 4 configurations the cost runs $2,420–$2,840 a year. That is a $420 difference between the cheapest and the costliest configuration.
How much does it cost to drive a 2000 Mazda Protege 100 miles?
About $16.13 per 100 miles for the Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), and between $16.13 and $18.93 across all configurations. That is the annual cost over 15,000 miles divided by 150.
Is the 2000 Mazda Protege more efficient in the city or on the highway?
The Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD is rated 25 city and 31 highway MPG, so it is more efficient on the highway, by 6 MPG.
How does the 2000 Mazda Protege compare with other small car configurations?
The Protege 1.6L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,420 a year to fuel, $690 less than the class median of $3,110, and less than 9 of 10 small car configurations. The comparison covers all 281 rated small car configurations for MY2000, not weighted by sales.