The Toyota Avalon does 28 mpg combined (25.4 city, 31.9 highway), which works out to about $1,371 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 41.6 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 21.7 — a difference of $847 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Toyota Avalon engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota Avalon ranges from 41.6 down to 21.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 41.2 / 41 | 2013–2022 | $923 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 / 34 | 2021–2021 | $1,371 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 20.5 / 29.6 | 2005–2022 | $1,607 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18.6 / 26.9 | 1995–2004 | $1,770 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Avalon burns a gallon every 28 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 429 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.114 |
| Fuel per year | $1,371 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,855 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$559 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,383 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Avalon gives up 6.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.9 out there against 25.4 in town, a 26% drop worth $308 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 | 25.4 mpg | $1,512 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.9 mpg | $1,204 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.5 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the Avalon changed over the years
The Avalon peaked in 2022 at 35 mpg (32.5 city, 38 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 2022 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 32.5 / 38 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2021 | 30 / 36.7 | 3 | $1,174 | |
| 2020 | 32.5 / 38 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2019 | 32.5 / 38 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2018 | 30.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2017 | 30.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2016 | 30.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2015 | 30.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2014 | 30.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,182 | |
| 2013 | 30.5 / 34.5 | 2 | $1,182 | |
| 2012 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2011 | 20 / 29 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2010 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2009 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2008 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2006 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2005 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2003 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2002 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1999 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1998 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1997 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 1996 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1995 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 39 EPA ratings of the Toyota Avalon — 4 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 $2,383. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Avalon get?
28 mpg combined on average — 25.4 in the city and 31.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1995–2022.
How much does a Toyota Avalon cost in fuel per year?
About $1,371 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,855 over five years, or 0.114 dollars a mile.
Which Avalon engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 41.6 mpg, against 21.7 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $847 a year.
Is the Avalon good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Avalon 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 Avalon is $2,383 against the $1,371 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 44 and 21 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.