The Honda CR-V does 28.2 mpg combined (26.9 city, 30.4 highway), which works out to about $1,362 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 39.1 mpg while 2L 4-cyl does 21 — a difference of $847 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Honda CR-V engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Honda CR-V ranges from 39.1 down to 21 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $847 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 41.7 / 35.6 | 2020–2026 | $982 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 28 / 33.9 | 2017–2026 | $1,280 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21.6 / 28.1 | 2002–2016 | $1,574 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 19.6 / 23 | 1997–2001 | $1,829 |
What that actually costs
The Honda CR-V burns a gallon every 28.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 426 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.113 |
| Fuel per year | $1,362 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,810 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$132 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,311 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Honda CR-V gives up 3.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30.4 out there against 26.9 in town, a 13% drop worth $165 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 | 26.9 mpg | $1,428 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 30.4 mpg | $1,263 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.5 mpg (13%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the CR-V changed over the years
The CR-V peaked in 2026 at 35 mpg (35.5 city, 34.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2001 at 21 — 14 mpg apart, or $732 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 35. 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 | 35.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2025 | 35.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2024 | 35.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2023 | 35.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2022 | 34 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,129 | |
| 2021 | 34 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,129 | |
| 2020 | 34 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,129 | |
| 2019 | 28 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2018 | 28 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2017 | 28 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2016 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2015 | 27 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2014 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2013 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2012 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2011 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2010 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2009 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2008 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2006 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2005 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2004 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2003 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2002 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2001 | 20 / 23 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 20 / 23 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1999 | 20 / 23 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1998 | 19 / 23 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1997 | 19 / 23 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 37 EPA ratings of the Honda CR-V — 4 engines across 1997–2026. 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 $2,311. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Honda CR-V get?
28.2 mpg combined on average — 26.9 in the city and 30.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1997–2026.
How much does a Honda CR-V cost in fuel per year?
About $1,362 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,810 over five years, or 0.113 dollars a mile.
Which CR-V engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 39.1 mpg, against 21 for the 2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $847 a year.
Is the CR-V 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 CR-V 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 CR-V is $2,311 against the $1,362 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 40 and 21 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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