The Hyundai Accent does 30.2 mpg combined (26.6 city, 35.3 highway), which works out to about $1,272 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl does 31.6 mpg while 1.5L 4-cyl does 28 — a difference of $156 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Hyundai Accent engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Hyundai Accent ranges from 31.6 down to 28 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $156 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 28.2 / 36.6 | 2006–2022 | $1,215 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 24.2 / 33.2 | 1995–2005 | $1,371 |
What that actually costs
The Hyundai Accent burns a gallon every 30.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 397 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.106 |
| Fuel per year | $1,272 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,360 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$222 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,070 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Hyundai Accent gives up 8.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 35.3 out there against 26.6 in town, a 33% drop worth $356 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 | 26.6 mpg | $1,444 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 35.3 mpg | $1,088 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.7 mpg (33%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Accent changed over the years
The Accent peaked in 2022 at 36 mpg (33 city, 41 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 28 — 8 mpg apart, or $304 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2022 car does 36. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 33 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2021 | 33 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2020 | 33 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2019 | 28 / 38 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2018 | 28 / 38 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2017 | 27 / 37 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2016 | 27 / 37 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2015 | 27 / 37 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2014 | 27 / 37 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2013 | 28 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2012 | 28 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2011 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2010 | 27 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2009 | 26 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2008 | 27 / 32 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2007 | 27 / 32 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2006 | 27 / 32 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2005 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2004 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2003 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2002 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2001 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2000 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1999 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1998 | 25 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1997 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1996 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 1995 | 25 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 28 EPA ratings of the Hyundai Accent — 2 engines across 1995–2022. 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 $2,070. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Hyundai Accent get?
30.2 mpg combined on average — 26.6 in the city and 35.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1995–2022.
How much does a Hyundai Accent cost in fuel per year?
About $1,272 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,360 over five years, or 0.106 dollars a mile.
Which Accent engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 31.6 mpg, against 28 for the 1.5L 4-cyl — a difference of about $156 a year.
Is the Accent 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 Accent figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Hyundai Accent is $2,070 against the $1,272 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 36 and 28 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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