The Toyota 4-Runner does 18.1 mpg combined (16.6 city, 20.4 highway), which works out to about $2,122 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid does 23 mpg while 4.7L 8-cyl does 16.4 — a difference of $671 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Toyota 4-Runner engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota 4-Runner ranges from 23 down to 16.4 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $671 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid | 23 / 24 | 2025–2026 | $1,670 | |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 17.9 / 22 | 1996–2011 | $1,990 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 17.6 / 21.1 | 1984–2026 | $2,032 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 16.5 / 20.8 | 2003–2024 | $2,122 | |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 15.7 / 19 | 1996–2002 | $2,272 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 15 / 18.6 | 1988–1995 | $2,313 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 15 / 18.4 | 2003–2009 | $2,341 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota 4-Runner burns a gallon every 18.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 663 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.177 |
| Fuel per year | $2,122 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,610 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$192 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,472 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota 4-Runner gives up 3.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.4 out there against 16.6 in town, a 23% drop worth $431 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 | 16.6 mpg | $2,313 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.4 mpg | $1,882 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.8 mpg (23%) | Typical for its type |
How the 4-Runner changed over the years
The 4-Runner peaked in 2026 at 22.5 mpg (21.5 city, 25 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2002 at 16 — 6.5 mpg apart, or $693 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 22.5. 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 | 21.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2025 | 21.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2024 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2023 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2022 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2021 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2020 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2019 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2018 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2017 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2016 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2015 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2014 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2013 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2012 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2011 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2010 | 17.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2009 | 15.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2008 | 15.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2007 | 15.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2006 | 15.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2005 | 15.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2004 | 15.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2003 | 15.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,259 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 18 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2001 | 16 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2000 | 16.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 1997 | 16.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 67 EPA ratings of the Toyota 4-Runner — 7 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 $3,472. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota 4-Runner get?
18.1 mpg combined on average — 16.6 in the city and 20.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.
How much does a Toyota 4-Runner cost in fuel per year?
About $2,122 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,610 over five years, or 0.177 dollars a mile.
Which 4-Runner engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid at 23 mpg, against 16.4 for the 4.7L 8-cyl — a difference of about $671 a year.
Is the 4-Runner good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world 4-Runner figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Toyota 4-Runner is $3,472 against the $2,122 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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