The Hyundai Tucson does 27.7 mpg combined (25.9 city, 30.5 highway), which works out to about $1,386 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 Hybrid does 38 mpg while 2.7L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $909 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Hyundai Tucson engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Hyundai Tucson ranges from 38 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $909 a year across 7 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 Hybrid | 38 / 38 | 2022–2026 | $1,011 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 35 / 35 | 2022–2026 | $1,097 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 25.2 / 32.6 | 2022–2026 | $1,362 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 25.7 / 31.3 | 2016–2018 | $1,386 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 22 / 30.3 | 2010–2013 | $1,518 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.2 / 26.9 | 2005–2021 | $1,620 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 18 / 24 | 2005–2009 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Hyundai Tucson burns a gallon every 27.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 433 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.116 |
| Fuel per year | $1,386 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,930 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$108 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,350 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Hyundai Tucson gives up 4.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30.5 out there against 25.9 in town, a 18% drop worth $224 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 | 25.9 mpg | $1,483 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 30.5 mpg | $1,259 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.6 mpg (18%) | Typical for its type |
How the Tucson changed over the years
The Tucson peaked in 2022 at 34 mpg (33 city, 35.3 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 21 — 13 mpg apart, or $700 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 33.7. 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 | 32.7 / 35.3 | 3 | $1,139 | |
| 2025 | 32.7 / 35.3 | 3 | $1,139 | |
| 2024 | 32.7 / 35 | 3 | $1,139 | |
| 2023 | 32.7 / 35 | 3 | $1,139 | |
| 2022 | 33 / 35.3 | 3 | $1,129 | |
| 2021 | 23 / 28 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2020 | 23 / 28 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2019 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2018 | 25 / 30 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2017 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2016 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2015 | 23 / 28 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2014 | 23 / 28 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2012 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2011 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2010 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2009 | 19 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2008 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2007 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2006 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2005 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $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 Hyundai Tucson — 7 engines across 2005–2026. 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 $2,350. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Hyundai Tucson get?
27.7 mpg combined on average — 25.9 in the city and 30.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2005–2026.
How much does a Hyundai Tucson cost in fuel per year?
About $1,386 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,930 over five years, or 0.116 dollars a mile.
Which Tucson engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid at 38 mpg, against 20 for the 2.7L 6-cyl — a difference of about $909 a year.
Is the Tucson 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 Tucson 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 Tucson is $2,350 against the $1,386 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 38 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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