The Volvo BE does 23.7 mpg combined (20.4 city, 29.4 highway), which works out to about $1,620 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 25.4 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 21.3 — a difference of $291 a year. Against other 5-cyl cars it sits above the average of 21.8 mpg.
Every Volvo BE engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Volvo BE ranges from 25.4 down to 21.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $291 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.8 / 31.6 | 2016–2020 | $1,512 | |
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 20.4 / 29.1 | 2009–2016 | $1,634 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18.3 / 26.7 | 2014–2016 | $1,803 |
What that actually costs
The Volvo BE burns a gallon every 23.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 506 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.135 |
| Fuel per year | $1,620 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,100 |
| Against other 5-cyl cars | −$141 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,788 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Volvo BE gives up 9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 29.4 out there against 20.4 in town, a 44% drop worth $576 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 | 20.4 mpg | $1,882 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29.4 mpg | $1,306 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9 mpg (44%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the BE changed over the years
The BE peaked in 2018 at 26 mpg (22 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2014 at 22 — 4 mpg apart, or $268 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2020 car does 25. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 21 / 32 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2019 | 21 / 32 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2018 | 22 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2017 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 28.7 | 3 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 19.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2014 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2012 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2011 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2010 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2009 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 |
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 16 EPA ratings of the Volvo BE — 3 engines across 2009–2020. 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 $2,788. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Volvo BE get?
23.7 mpg combined on average — 20.4 in the city and 29.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2009–2020.
How much does a Volvo BE cost in fuel per year?
About $1,620 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,100 over five years, or 0.135 dollars a mile.
Which BE engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 25.4 mpg, against 21.3 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $291 a year.
Is the BE good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 5-cyl cars it sits above the average of 21.8 mpg, computed across 217 ratings.
Are these real-world BE figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Volvo BE is $2,788 against the $1,620 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 26 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.