Your Gas Cost Per Mile
Your 2020 Mazda CX-3 costs 8 to 10 cents per mile on gas in the 01820 area near Dracut, MA. This figure comes from a local regular gas price of $2.83 per gallon and EPA ratings of 29 MPG city, 34 MPG highway, and 31 MPG combined. City driving runs about 10 cents per mile. Highway driving costs about 8 cents. Mixed driving averages 9 cents.
How We Calculate It
We use this simple formula: cost per mile = gas price per gallon ÷ miles per gallon.
- City: $2.83 ÷ 29 MPG = $0.098 per mile, or 10 cents.
- Highway: $2.83 ÷ 34 MPG = $0.083 per mile, or 8 cents.
- Combined: $2.83 ÷ 31 MPG = $0.091 per mile, or 9 cents.
Your actual cost changes with traffic, speed, weather, and pump prices. Stations in 01820 range from $2.80 to $2.90 for regular gas. This shifts your per-mile cost slightly.
Cost Per Mile at Common Prices
| Gas Price | City (29 MPG) | Highway (34 MPG) | Combined (31 MPG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.80 | 10¢ | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| $2.83 | 10¢ | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| $2.90 | 10¢ | 9¢ | 9¢ |
| $3.00 | 10¢ | 9¢ | 10¢ |
What This Means for Your Budget
At 9 cents per mile, you spend about $1,080 on gas for 12,000 miles per year. Drop to 8 cents per mile, and you save $120 yearly.
Quick Ways to Lower Your Cost Per Mile
- Keep tires at the pressure listed on the door jamb. This boosts MPG up to 3 percent.
- Drive steady at 55 to 65 mph on highways. Hard speed changes and braking use 10 to 20 percent more fuel.
- Use cruise control when traffic allows. Steady throttle saves gas.
- Cut long idles and plan routes to avoid stops.
- Remove unneeded heavy cargo. Extra weight lowers MPG.
- Stick to regular gas. Your CX-3 owner's manual calls for it.
- Track your real MPG: divide miles driven by gallons filled. Check trends over a few tanks.
DIY Check
Reset your trip odometer after a fill-up. Drive normally. At the next fill-up, divide miles by gallons for your MPG. Multiply by current gas price for exact cost per mile. Example: 30 MPG at $2.90 equals $2.90 ÷ 30 = 10 cents per mile.
Sidekick tracks your CX-3 real MPG and 01820 prices to show your exact cost per mile anytime.