The Toyota RAV4 does 28.8 mpg combined (27.5 city, 31.1 highway), which works out to about $1,333 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 Plug-in hybrid does 38 mpg while 3.5L 6-cyl does 22 — a difference of $734 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Toyota RAV4 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota RAV4 ranges from 38 down to 22 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $734 a year across 6 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 Plug-in hybrid | 40 / 36 | 2021–2025 | $1,011 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 39.6 / 36 | 2016–2026 | $1,013 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 24.2 / 31.6 | 2009–2025 | $1,412 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.4 / 26.9 | 1996–2003 | $1,634 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 / 27 | 2004–2008 | $1,641 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 / 26.7 | 2006–2012 | $1,745 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota RAV4 burns a gallon every 28.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 417 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.111 |
| Fuel per year | $1,333 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,665 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$161 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,273 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota RAV4 gives up 3.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.1 out there against 27.5 in town, a 13% drop worth $161 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 | 27.5 mpg | $1,396 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.1 mpg | $1,235 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.6 mpg (13%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the RAV4 changed over the years
The RAV4 peaked in 2026 at 43 mpg (47 city, 40 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2007 at 22.5 — 20.5 mpg apart, or $814 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 43. 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 | 47 / 40 | 1 | $893 | |
| 2025 | 36 / 36.3 | 3 | $1,076 | |
| 2024 | 36 / 36.3 | 3 | $1,076 | |
| 2023 | 36 / 36.3 | 3 | $1,067 | |
| 2022 | 36 / 36.3 | 3 | $1,067 | |
| 2021 | 36 / 36.3 | 3 | $1,067 | |
| 2020 | 34 / 36.5 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2019 | 33.5 / 36.5 | 2 | $1,097 | |
| 2018 | 28.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,324 | |
| 2017 | 28.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,324 | |
| 2016 | 28.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,324 | |
| 2015 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2014 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2013 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2012 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2011 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2010 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2009 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2008 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2006 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2005 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2004 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2003 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2002 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2001 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2000 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1999 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1998 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 1997 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 53 EPA ratings of the Toyota RAV4 — 6 engines across 1996–2026. 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 $2,273. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota RAV4 get?
28.8 mpg combined on average — 27.5 in the city and 31.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1996–2026.
How much does a Toyota RAV4 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,333 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,665 over five years, or 0.111 dollars a mile.
Which RAV4 engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid at 38 mpg, against 22 for the 3.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $734 a year.
Is the RAV4 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 RAV4 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 RAV4 is $2,273 against the $1,333 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 43 and 22 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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