The Acura NSX does 19.1 mpg combined (17.4 city, 22 highway), which works out to about $2,010 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid does 21 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 18.2 — a difference of $281 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Acura NSX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Acura NSX ranges from 21 down to 18.2 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $281 a year across 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 21 / 22 | 2017–2022 | $1,829 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 15.9 / 22 | 1991–2005 | $2,110 |
What that actually costs
The Acura NSX burns a gallon every 19.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 628 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.168 |
| Fuel per year | $2,010 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,050 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$80 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,068 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Acura NSX gives up 4.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22 out there against 17.4 in town, a 26% drop worth $462 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 | 17.4 mpg | $2,207 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22 mpg | $1,745 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.6 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the NSX changed over the years
The NSX peaked in 2022 at 21 mpg (21 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 18 — 3 mpg apart, or $304 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2022 car does 21. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 21 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2021 | 21 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2020 | 21 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2019 | 21 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2018 | 21 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 22 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2005 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1999 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1998 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1996 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1995 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1992 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1991 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 20 EPA ratings of the Acura NSX — 2 engines across 1991–2022. 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 $4,068. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Acura NSX get?
19.1 mpg combined on average — 17.4 in the city and 22 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1991–2022.
How much does a Acura NSX cost in fuel per year?
About $2,010 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,050 over five years, or 0.168 dollars a mile.
Which NSX engine is the most economical?
The 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid at 21 mpg, against 18.2 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $281 a year.
Is the NSX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world NSX 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 NSX is $4,068 against the $2,010 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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