The Honda Element does 21.6 mpg combined (19.8 city, 24.4 highway), which works out to about $1,778 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Honda Element engine, compared
The Honda Element was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 19.8 / 24.4 | 2003–2011 | $1,778 |
What that actually costs
The Honda Element burns a gallon every 21.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 556 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.148 |
| Fuel per year | $1,778 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,890 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$284 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,894 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Honda Element gives up 4.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.4 out there against 19.8 in town, a 23% drop worth $365 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 | 19.8 mpg | $1,939 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.4 mpg | $1,574 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.6 mpg (23%) | Typical for its type |
How the Element changed over the years
The Element peaked in 2011 at 22 mpg (20 city, 24 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2006 at 21 — 1 mpg apart, or $84 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2011 car does 22. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20 / 24 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2010 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2009 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2008 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2006 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2005 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2004 | 20 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2003 | 20 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 9 EPA ratings of the Honda Element — 1 engine across 2003–2011. 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 $2,894. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Honda Element get?
21.6 mpg combined on average — 19.8 in the city and 24.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2003–2011.
How much does a Honda Element cost in fuel per year?
About $1,778 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,890 over five years, or 0.148 dollars a mile.
Which Element engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 21.6 mpg.
Is the Element 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 Element 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 Element is $2,894 against the $1,778 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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