The Toyota Land Cruiser does 14.2 mpg combined (12.9 city, 16.3 highway), which works out to about $2,704 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 4.2L 6-cyl does 11 — a difference of $1,821 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Toyota Land Cruiser engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota Land Cruiser ranges from 23 down to 11 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,821 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 | 22 / 25 | 2024–2027 | $1,670 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 13 / 17.8 | 2008–2021 | $2,595 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 12 / 15.3 | 1998–2007 | $2,931 | |
| 4.5L 6-cyl | 11.6 / 14 | 1993–1997 | $3,048 | |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 11 / 13 | 1991–1991 | $3,200 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 10.8 / 13 | 1988–1992 | $3,254 | |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 10 / 12 | 1984–1987 | $3,491 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Land Cruiser burns a gallon every 14.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 845 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.225 |
| Fuel per year | $2,704 |
| Fuel over five years | $13,520 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$319 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,621 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Land Cruiser gives up 3.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 16.3 out there against 12.9 in town, a 26% drop worth $621 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 | 12.9 mpg | $2,977 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 16.3 mpg | $2,356 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.4 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the Land Cruiser changed over the years
The Land Cruiser peaked in 2027 at 23 mpg (22 city, 25 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1992 at 11 — 12 mpg apart, or $1,821 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 23. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 22 / 25 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2026 | 22 / 25 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2025 | 22 / 25 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2024 | 22 / 25 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2021 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2020 | 13 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2019 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2018 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2017 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2016 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2015 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2014 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2013 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2011 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2010 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2009 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2008 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2007 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2006 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2005 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2004 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2003 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2002 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2001 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2000 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1999 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1998 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1997 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1996 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1995 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 41 EPA ratings of the Toyota Land Cruiser — 7 engines across 1984–2027. 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 $4,621. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Land Cruiser get?
14.2 mpg combined on average — 12.9 in the city and 16.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2027.
How much does a Toyota Land Cruiser cost in fuel per year?
About $2,704 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $13,520 over five years, or 0.225 dollars a mile.
Which Land Cruiser engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid at 23 mpg, against 11 for the 4.2L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,821 a year.
Is the Land Cruiser good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Land Cruiser 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 Land Cruiser is $4,621 against the $2,704 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 23 and 11 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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