The Volvo XC40 does 26.5 mpg combined (23.5 city, 31.8 highway), which works out to about $1,449 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 26.5 mpg while 2L 4-cyl Hybrid does 26.5 — a difference of $0 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Volvo XC40 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Volvo XC40 ranges from 26.5 down to 26.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $0 a year across 2 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 | 23 / 32.5 | 2019–2022 | $1,449 | |
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 24 / 31 | 2023–2026 | $1,449 |
What that actually costs
The Volvo XC40 burns a gallon every 26.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 453 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.121 |
| Fuel per year | $1,449 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,245 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$45 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,625 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Volvo XC40 gives up 8.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.8 out there against 23.5 in town, a 35% drop worth $426 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 | 23.5 mpg | $1,634 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.8 mpg | $1,208 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.3 mpg (35%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the XC40 changed over the years
The XC40 peaked in 2026 at 27 mpg (25 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2025 at 26 — 1 mpg apart, or $55 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 27. 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 | 25 / 32 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2025 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2024 | 24 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2023 | 24 / 32 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2022 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2021 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2020 | 23 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2019 | 23 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 |
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 8 EPA ratings of the Volvo XC40 — 2 engines across 2019–2026. 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 $2,625. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Volvo XC40 get?
26.5 mpg combined on average — 23.5 in the city and 31.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2019–2026.
How much does a Volvo XC40 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,449 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,245 over five years, or 0.121 dollars a mile.
Which XC40 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 26.5 mpg, against 26.5 for the 2L 4-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $0 a year.
Is the XC40 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 XC40 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 XC40 is $2,625 against the $1,449 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 26 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.