The Acura MDX does 20.8 mpg combined (18.6 city, 24.1 highway), which works out to about $1,846 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl Hybrid does 27 mpg while 3.7L 6-cyl does 17.6 — a difference of $760 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Acura MDX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Acura MDX ranges from 27 down to 17.6 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $760 a year across 3 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 26 / 27 | 2017–2020 | $1,422 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 18.1 / 24.8 | 2001–2026 | $1,855 | |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 15.6 / 20.6 | 2007–2013 | $2,182 |
What that actually costs
The Acura MDX burns a gallon every 20.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 577 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.154 |
| Fuel per year | $1,846 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,230 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$84 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,810 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Acura MDX gives up 5.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.1 out there against 18.6 in town, a 30% drop worth $472 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.6 mpg | $2,065 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.1 mpg | $1,593 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.5 mpg (30%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the MDX changed over the years
The MDX peaked in 2020 at 25 mpg (23 city, 27 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 17 — 8 mpg apart, or $723 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 22. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2025 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2024 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2023 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2022 | 19 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2020 | 23 / 27 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2019 | 23 / 27 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2018 | 23 / 27 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2017 | 23 / 27 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2014 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2013 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2012 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2011 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2009 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2008 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2007 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2006 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2005 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2004 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 29 EPA ratings of the Acura MDX — 3 engines across 2001–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,810. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Acura MDX get?
20.8 mpg combined on average — 18.6 in the city and 24.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2026.
How much does a Acura MDX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,846 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,230 over five years, or 0.154 dollars a mile.
Which MDX engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl Hybrid at 27 mpg, against 17.6 for the 3.7L 6-cyl — a difference of about $760 a year.
Is the MDX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world MDX figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Acura MDX is $3,810 against the $1,846 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 17 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.