Volvo averages 31.0 mpg combined across 38 models (1984–2027). The best on record does 116 mpg, the thirstiest 15 — a yearly fuel gap of about $2,229.
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 | 31.0 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,239 |
| Most frugal on record | 116 mpg — $331 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 15 mpg — $2,560 a year |
Volvo models by fuel economy
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 EX30 | 116 / 116 | $331 | |
| Volvo EC40 | 106 / 106 | $362 | |
| Volvo EX40 | 106 / 106 | $362 | |
| Volvo C40 | 107 / 87 | $410 | |
| Volvo EX90 | 98 / 84 | $422 | |
| Volvo VS | 107 / 25 | $540 | |
| Volvo XC40 | 106 / 26 | $812 | |
| Volvo VNR | 107 / 21 | $861 | |
| Volvo BE | 107 / 21 | $889 | |
| Volvo VT | 107 / 20 | $1,016 | |
| Volvo VNX | 107 / 21 | $1,041 | |
| Volvo VHD | 107 / 20 | $1,082 | |
| Volvo VNM | 107 / 20 | $1,139 | |
| Volvo 9700 | 107 / 20 | $1,164 | |
| Volvo NEW VNL | 107 / 20 | $1,164 | |
| Volvo FE | 107 / 20 | $1,259 | |
| Volvo WIA | 107 / 20 | $1,259 | |
| Volvo B10M | 107 / 20 | $1,272 | |
| Volvo V60 | 31 / 21 | $1,407 | |
| Volvo S90 | 30 / 18 | $1,412 | |
| Volvo V60CC | 27 / 23 | $1,518 | |
| Volvo S60 | 31 / 21 | $1,518 | |
| Volvo V90 | 27 / 18 | $1,542 | |
| Volvo V90CC | 26 / 24 | $1,542 | |
| Volvo XC60 | 28 / 18 | $1,587 | |
| Volvo S60 Cross Country | 26 / 21 | $1,587 | |
| Volvo C30 | 24 / 23 | $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 NR | 22 / 21 | $1,803 | |
| Volvo NE | 22 / 21 | $1,803 | |
| Volvo V70 | 22 / 19 | $1,811 | |
| Volvo C70 | 23 / 20 | $1,820 | |
| Volvo S80 | 29 / 18 | $1,837 | |
| Volvo XC90 | 27 / 15 | $1,846 | |
| Volvo XC70 | 27 / 17 | $1,882 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
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How we count
Fuel-economy figures come from EPA fueleconomy.gov — the same laboratory numbers printed on the window sticker. We don't adjust them; real-world consumption depends on how and where you drive.
What we add is money. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon — change either and the ranking stays, only the size of the bill moves. Cost per mile is the same figure divided out, useful when comparing a commute against a weekend car.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Volvo mpg?
31.0 mpg combined across 38 models rated between 1984 and 2027. That averages everything the brand has offered, so a long history of trucks pulls it down.
Which Volvo model is the most economical?
See the table above — models are sorted from the most frugal down, with what each costs in fuel per year.
How much does a Volvo cost to run?
About $1,239 a year in fuel on average, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon.
Why does the average look low for a modern brand?
Because it covers every model year on record, back to the 1980s. Cars built before the mid-2000s were markedly thirstier — that era is included.