Gallonly
2006 Hyundai Elantra VE 4-Door (XD)
Shown: 2006 Hyundai Elantra VE 4-Door (XD). Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Newest year: 2006
  • Gas
  • Midsize cars
  • Same as 2005

2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra MPG & Fuel Cost

6 model years · 24–26 MPG combined

26 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
City
31 MPG
Highway
Annual fuel cost · Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD
$2,510

15,000 mi/yr · regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026)

Cheaper to fuel than 10 of 10 midsize car configurations, MY2006. Ranked against all rated configurations, not sales-weighted.

2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra at a glance

The 2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra covers 6 model years in the EPA database (14 configurations in all), rated 24–26 MPG combined. The newest model year, 2006, costs about $2,510 a year to fuel for its most efficient version, the Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD (26 MPG), at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026). EPA changed the ratings in 2003, 2004 and 2005; 2002 and 2006 repeat the values of the year before. The best combined rating in the generation, 26 MPG, was reached in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra by model year

2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra: EPA combined rating and yearly fuel cost for each model year
Model yearPowertrainsCombined$/yrEPA ratings
2006 Gas 24–26 MPG $2,510–$2,720 Same EPA ratings as 2005
2005 Gas 24–26 MPG $2,510–$2,720 Ratings changed
2004 Gas 24–26 MPG $2,510–$2,720 Ratings changed
2003 Gas 25 MPG $2,610 Ratings changed
2002 Gas 25 MPG $2,610 Same EPA ratings as 2001
2001 Gas 25 MPG $2,610 First year

What the 2006 Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD costs to drive

Per month

$209

$2,510 a year ÷ 12

Per 25 miles

$4.18

Per 100 miles

$16.73

Five years

$12,550

5 × the yearly cost, prices held at today's level

vs the midsize car median

$1,120less a year

Class median $3,630 a year, MY2006

Based on 15,000 miles a year and regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).

2006 Hyundai Elantra MPG

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

EPA lists the same ratings for the 2006 Hyundai Elantra as for the 2005 model, so the configurations and costs are the ones in the 2005 section above.See 2005

Gas · 2.0L
Combined
24–26 MPG
Per year
$2,510–$2,720

Gas configurations (2)

2006 Hyundai Elantra gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 23 31 26 $2,510
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 29 24 $2,720

2005 Hyundai Elantra MPG

24–26 MPG · $2,510–$2,720/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2004: The most efficient configuration stays at 26 MPG. Its annual cost stays at $2,510.

Gas · 2.0L
Combined
24–26 MPG
Per year
$2,510–$2,720

Gas configurations (2)

2005 Hyundai Elantra gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 23 31 26 $2,510
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 29 24 $2,720

2004 Hyundai Elantra MPG

24–26 MPG · $2,510–$2,720/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2003: The most efficient configuration moves from 25 to 26 MPG, up 1. Its annual cost goes from $2,610 to $2,510, $100 less.

Gas · 2.0L
Combined
24–26 MPG
Per year
$2,510–$2,720

Gas configurations (3)

2004 Hyundai Elantra gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd (Most efficient) 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 23 31 26 $2,510
Hatchback 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 24 31 26 $2,510
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 29 24 $2,720

2003 Hyundai Elantra MPG

25 MPG · $2,610/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Versus 2002: The most efficient configuration stays at 25 MPG. Its annual cost stays at $2,610.

Gas · 2.0L
Combined
25 MPG
Per year
$2,610

Gas configurations (3)

2003 Hyundai Elantra gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd (Most efficient) 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 22 30 25 $2,610
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 25 $2,610
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 25 $2,610

2002 Hyundai Elantra MPG

Same EPA ratings as 2001

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

EPA lists the same ratings for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra as for the 2001 model, so the configurations and costs are the ones in the 2001 section above.See 2001

2001 Hyundai Elantra MPG

25 MPG · $2,610/yr

EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.

Gas · 2.0L
Combined
25 MPG
Per year
$2,610

Gas configurations (2)

2001 Hyundai Elantra gas configurations: EPA ratings and annual cost
TrimEngineDriveCityHwyComb.$/yr
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Automatic 4-spd (Most efficient) 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 25 $2,610
Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD Manual 5-spd 2.0L 4-cyl FWD 21 30 25 $2,610

Fuel cost by state

Yearly cost of the Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD: $3,420 in California and $2,190 in Texas, a $1,230 difference.

Gasoline prices: California: California state average; Washington: Washington state average; New York: New York state average; Florida: Florida state average; Texas: Texas state average (Sep 2026).
Fuel cost in every state

Similar cars

Closest combined MPG among MY2006 midsize car models.

EPA ratings: fueleconomy.gov file of Sep 29, 2026 · Prices: EIA regular gasoline, U.S. average, Sep 2026 ($4.36/gal) · 15,000 mi/yr, 55% city / 45% highway · How we calculate

Generations

Frequently asked questions

What gas mileage does the 2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra get?

EPA rates the 2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra at 24–26 MPG combined across 14 configurations and 6 model years. The most efficient version, the 2006 Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD, is rated 26 MPG (23 city, 31 highway).

Which years had the best MPG in the 2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra?

The Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD reached the generation's best combined rating, 26 MPG, in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The lowest top rating, 25 MPG, was in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Did EPA ratings change during the 2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra?

Yes. Ratings changed in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2002 and 2006 the values repeat the year before.

How does the 2001-2006 Hyundai Elantra compare with the previous generation?

The previous generation (2000 Hyundai Elantra) is rated 22–24 MPG combined and costs $2,720–$2,970 a year to fuel; the 2001-2006 model is rated 24–26 MPG and costs $2,510–$2,720 a year.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Hyundai Elantra per year?

Driving 15,000 miles a year at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), the Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,510 a year. Across all 2 configurations the cost runs $2,510–$2,720 a year. That is a $210 difference between the cheapest and the costliest configuration.

How much does it cost to drive a 2006 Hyundai Elantra 100 miles?

About $16.73 per 100 miles for the Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD at regular gasoline $4.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), and between $16.73 and $18.13 across all configurations. That is the annual cost over 15,000 miles divided by 150.

Is the 2006 Hyundai Elantra more efficient in the city or on the highway?

The Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD is rated 23 city and 31 highway MPG, so it is more efficient on the highway, by 8 MPG.

How does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra compare with other midsize car configurations?

The Elantra 2.0L 4-cyl FWD costs about $2,510 a year to fuel, $1,120 less than the class median of $3,630, and less than 10 of 10 midsize car configurations. The comparison covers all 133 rated midsize car configurations for MY2006, not weighted by sales.

Is the 2006 Hyundai Elantra different from the 2005 model?

No. EPA lists the same ratings for 2005 and 2006: 2 configurations rated 24–26 MPG combined. See the 2005 Hyundai Elantra for that year.