The Acura RDX does 22.4 mpg combined (20.1 city, 26.4 highway), which works out to about $1,714 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 23.6 mpg while 2.3L 4-cyl does 20 — a difference of $293 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Acura RDX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Acura RDX ranges from 23.6 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $293 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.6 / 27.6 | 2019–2026 | $1,627 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 / 28 | 2013–2018 | $1,670 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 18 / 23 | 2007–2012 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Acura RDX burns a gallon every 22.4 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 536 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.143 |
| Fuel per year | $1,714 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,570 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$220 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,463 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Acura RDX gives up 6.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.4 out there against 20.1 in town, a 31% drop worth $455 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 | 20.1 mpg | $1,910 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.4 mpg | $1,455 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.3 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the RDX changed over the years
The RDX peaked in 2023 at 24 mpg (22 city, 28 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 19 — 5 mpg apart, or $421 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 23. 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 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2025 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2024 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2023 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2022 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2021 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2020 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2019 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2018 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2017 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2014 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2013 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2012 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2011 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2010 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2009 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2008 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 |
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 RDX — 3 engines across 2007–2026. 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 $3,463. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Acura RDX get?
22.4 mpg combined on average — 20.1 in the city and 26.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2007–2026.
How much does a Acura RDX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,714 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,570 over five years, or 0.143 dollars a mile.
Which RDX engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 23.6 mpg, against 20 for the 2.3L 4-cyl — a difference of about $293 a year.
Is the RDX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world RDX 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 RDX is $3,463 against the $1,714 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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