The Honda Accord does 29 mpg combined (26.7 city, 33.2 highway), which works out to about $1,324 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid does 47.7 mpg while 2.7L 6-cyl does 19 — a difference of $1,216 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Honda Accord engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Honda Accord ranges from 47.7 down to 19 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,216 a year across 12 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 Hybrid | 49.2 / 45.8 | 2014–2026 | $805 | |
| 2L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 47 / 46 | 2014–2014 | $835 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 29.6 / 37.6 | 2018–2026 | $1,178 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 23.9 / 32.7 | 2003–2017 | $1,412 | |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 / 31 | 1984–1985 | $1,422 | |
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 23.7 / 32 | 2005–2007 | $1,438 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22.8 / 30 | 1986–1989 | $1,506 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 21.6 / 28.6 | 1998–2002 | $1,574 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 21.5 / 28.4 | 1990–1997 | $1,580 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 20.2 / 31.4 | 2008–2017 | $1,613 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18.2 / 26.3 | 1998–2007 | $1,803 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 17 / 23 | 1995–1997 | $2,021 |
What that actually costs
The Honda Accord burns a gallon every 29 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 414 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.110 |
| Fuel per year | $1,324 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,620 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$170 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,307 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Honda Accord gives up 6.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 33.2 out there against 26.7 in town, a 24% drop worth $281 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 | 26.7 mpg | $1,438 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 33.2 mpg | $1,157 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.5 mpg (24%) | Typical for its type |
How the Accord changed over the years
The Accord peaked in 2021 at 40.5 mpg (39 city, 43 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1997 at 22 — 18.5 mpg apart, or $797 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 40. 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 | 40 / 40.5 | 2 | $960 | |
| 2025 | 40 / 40.5 | 2 | $960 | |
| 2024 | 40 / 40.5 | 2 | $960 | |
| 2023 | 40 / 40.5 | 2 | $960 | |
| 2022 | 39 / 42.5 | 2 | $960 | |
| 2021 | 39 / 43 | 2 | $948 | |
| 2020 | 39 / 42.5 | 2 | $948 | |
| 2019 | 39 / 43 | 2 | $948 | |
| 2018 | 38.5 / 42.5 | 2 | $960 | |
| 2017 | 32.3 / 38.7 | 3 | $1,120 | |
| 2016 | 24 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,396 | |
| 2015 | 32.3 / 38 | 3 | $1,129 | |
| 2014 | 35.8 / 40 | 4 | $1,038 | |
| 2013 | 23.5 / 34 | 2 | $1,396 | |
| 2012 | 21.5 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2011 | 21 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2010 | 20 / 30 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2009 | 20.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2008 | 20.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2007 | 21.7 / 29.7 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2006 | 21 / 29.3 | 3 | $1,600 | |
| 2005 | 22.3 / 30.7 | 3 | $1,518 | |
| 2004 | 20.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2003 | 21 / 29 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2002 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2001 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2000 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1999 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1998 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1997 | 19.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,745 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 82 EPA ratings of the Honda Accord — 12 engines across 1984–2026. 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 $2,307. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Honda Accord get?
29 mpg combined on average — 26.7 in the city and 33.2 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.
How much does a Honda Accord cost in fuel per year?
About $1,324 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,620 over five years, or 0.110 dollars a mile.
Which Accord engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 47.7 mpg, against 19 for the 2.7L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,216 a year.
Is the Accord good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Accord figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Honda Accord is $2,307 against the $1,324 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 48 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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