The Acura TLX does 24.6 mpg combined (21.4 city, 30.7 highway), which works out to about $1,561 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.4L 4-cyl does 27.5 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 21 — a difference of $433 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Acura TLX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Acura TLX ranges from 27.5 down to 21 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $433 a year across 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 23.5 / 34 | 2015–2020 | $1,396 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22 / 31 | 2021–2025 | $1,536 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 20.7 / 31.8 | 2015–2020 | $1,567 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 19 / 25 | 2021–2025 | $1,829 |
What that actually costs
The Acura TLX burns a gallon every 24.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 488 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.130 |
| Fuel per year | $1,561 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,805 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$67 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,157 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Acura TLX gives up 9.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30.7 out there against 21.4 in town, a 43% drop worth $543 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 | 21.4 mpg | $1,794 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 30.7 mpg | $1,251 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.3 mpg (43%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the TLX changed over the years
The TLX peaked in 2017 at 26.5 mpg (22.5 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2025 at 23 — 3.5 mpg apart, or $221 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2025 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2024 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2023 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2022 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2021 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2020 | 21.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2019 | 21.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2018 | 22 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2017 | 22.5 / 33 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2016 | 22.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2015 | 22.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,449 |
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 22 EPA ratings of the Acura TLX — 4 engines across 2015–2025. 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 $3,157. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Acura TLX get?
24.6 mpg combined on average — 21.4 in the city and 30.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2015–2025.
How much does a Acura TLX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,561 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,805 over five years, or 0.130 dollars a mile.
Which TLX engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 27.5 mpg, against 21 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $433 a year.
Is the TLX 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 TLX 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 TLX is $3,157 against the $1,561 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 21 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.