The Chevrolet Volt does 39.2 mpg combined (38.6 city, 40.9 highway), which works out to about $980 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid does 42 mpg while 1.4L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid does 37 — a difference of $124 a year. Against other Plug-in hybrid cars it sits above the average of 35.6 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Volt engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Volt ranges from 42 down to 37 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $124 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 43 / 42 | 2016–2019 | $914 | |
| 1.4L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 35 / 40 | 2011–2015 | $1,038 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Volt burns a gallon every 39.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 306 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.082 |
| Fuel per year | $980 |
| Fuel over five years | $4,900 |
| Against other Plug-in hybrid cars | −$99 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,833 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Volt gives up 2.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 40.9 out there against 38.6 in town, a 6% drop worth $56 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 | 38.6 mpg | $995 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 40.9 mpg | $939 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2.3 mpg (6%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Volt changed over the years
The Volt peaked in 2019 at 42 mpg (43 city, 42 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2015 at 37 — 5 mpg apart, or $124 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2019 car does 42. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 43 / 42 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2018 | 43 / 42 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2017 | 43 / 42 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2016 | 43 / 42 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2015 | 35 / 40 | 1 | $1,038 | |
| 2014 | 35 / 40 | 1 | $1,038 | |
| 2013 | 35 / 40 | 1 | $1,038 | |
| 2012 | 35 / 40 | 1 | $1,038 | |
| 2011 | 35 / 40 | 1 | $1,038 |
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 9 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Volt — 2 engines across 2011–2019. 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 $1,833. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Volt get?
39.2 mpg combined on average — 38.6 in the city and 40.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2011–2019.
How much does a Chevrolet Volt cost in fuel per year?
About $980 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $4,900 over five years, or 0.082 dollars a mile.
Which Volt engine is the most economical?
The 1.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid at 42 mpg, against 37 for the 1.4L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid — a difference of about $124 a year.
Is the Volt good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Plug-in hybrid cars it sits above the average of 35.6 mpg, computed across 157 ratings.
Are these real-world Volt figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet Volt is $1,833 against the $980 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 42 and 37 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.