Volvo averages 23.4 mpg combined across 19 petrol and diesel models (1997–2027). The best on record does 31 mpg, the thirstiest 15 — a yearly fuel gap of about $1,321. Its 7 electric models sit apart at 97.4 MPGe — 34.6 kWh per 100 miles, about $706 a year to charge, which is $935 less than the average Volvo costs to fuel.
What that actually costs
What a Volvo costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 23.4 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,641 |
| Most frugal on record | 31 mpg — $1,239 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 15 mpg — $2,560 a year |
| Its electric models | 97.4 MPGe — $706 a year to charge |
Volvo models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo V60 | 31 / 21 | $1,401 | |
| Volvo S90 | 30 / 18 | $1,438 | |
| Volvo XC40 | 27 / 26 | $1,449 | |
| Volvo S60 | 31 / 21 | $1,500 | |
| Volvo V60CC | 27 / 23 | $1,518 | |
| Volvo V90CC | 26 / 24 | $1,542 | |
| Volvo XC60 | 28 / 18 | $1,580 | |
| Volvo V90 | 27 / 18 | $1,600 | |
| Volvo C30 | 24 / 23 | $1,620 | |
| Volvo BE | 26 / 21 | $1,620 | |
| Volvo V50 | 24 / 22 | $1,648 | |
| Volvo S40 | 24 / 21 | $1,684 | |
| Volvo V40 | 23 / 21 | $1,745 | |
| Volvo S70 | 22 / 21 | $1,803 | |
| Volvo V70 | 22 / 19 | $1,811 | |
| Volvo C70 | 23 / 20 | $1,820 | |
| Volvo XC90 | 27 / 15 | $1,829 | |
| Volvo S80 | 29 / 18 | $1,837 | |
| Volvo XC70 | 27 / 17 | $1,882 |
The electric Volvos, measured differently
Volvo has 7 models that never visit a filling station, averaging 97.4 MPGe. That figure looks four times better than the 23.4 mpg the petrol Volvos manage, but the two are not the same unit — so we keep them apart and price the electric ones in kilowatt-hours.
| Model | MPGe | kWh / 100 mi | Charging per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo EX30 | 29.1 | $594 | |
| Volvo EC40 | 31.8 | $649 | |
| Volvo EX40 | 31.8 | $649 | |
| Volvo BE | 35.4 | $722 | |
| Volvo C40 | 36 | $734 | |
| Volvo EX90 | 37 | $755 | |
| Volvo XC40 | 38 | $775 |
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
Volvo rests on 303 EPA ratings covering 19 models from 1997 to 2027, plus 7 electric ones counted separately in MPGe. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Volvo gas mileage?
23.4 mpg combined across 19 models and 303 EPA ratings, from 1997 to 2027 — 30 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Volvo does today.
Which Volvo model is the most economical?
The Volvo V60 at 27.4 mpg, about $1,401 a year in fuel, against the XC70 at 20.4 mpg and $1,882 — a gap of $481 a year between the two ends of the same badge.
How much does a Volvo cost to run?
About $1,641 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $8,205, before a single service.
Does Volvo make anything electric?
Yes — 7 models, rated 97.4 MPGe rather than in mpg, which works out to 34.6 kWh per 100 miles and roughly $706 a year at the socket. That is $935 less than the average petrol Volvo, though the two ratings are not in the same unit.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.