Honda Civic vs Honda Accord: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Honda Civic is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,330 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Civic 4Dr, 49 MPG combined), against $1,360 for the Honda Accord (Accord Hybrid, 48 MPG combined). That is $30 a year, or $150 over five years.

Both come from the same maker or parent group. Costs assume 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel and electricity prices for both vehicles, using the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Each figure is rounded to $10 and every difference is calculated from the rounded values.

Illustration: Midsize cars

Hybrid
Midsize cars

Honda Civic

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Civic 4Dr

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,330

$8.87 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

7 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Midsize cars

Hybrid
Midsize cars

Honda Accord

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Accord Hybrid

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,360

$9.07 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

4 configurations in MY2026

What the fuel costs

Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration

Honda Civic$1,330 a year · $8.87 per 100 mi
Honda Accord$1,360 a year · $9.07 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$30

Honda Civic costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$150

$30 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Honda Civic and Honda Accord compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Honda Civic	Honda Accord
Lowest-cost configuration	Civic 4Dr	Accord Hybrid
Powertrain	Hybrid	Hybrid
Combined rating	49 MPG (better)	48 MPG
City rating	50 MPG	51 MPG (better)
Highway rating	47 MPG (better)	44 MPG
Annual fuel cost	$1,330/yr (better)	$1,360/yr
Cost per 100 miles	$8.87 (better)	$9.07
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,330–$3,300	$1,360–$2,080
Configurations in MY2026	7	4
EPA class	Midsize cars	Midsize cars

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Honda Civic and Honda Accord
Powertrain	Honda Civic	Honda Accord
Gas	36 MPG · $1,810/yr Civic 4Dr	32 MPG · $2,040/yr Accord
Hybrid	49 MPG · $1,330/yr Civic 4Dr	48 MPG · $1,360/yr Accord Hybrid

Each cell shows the combined rating and the annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration with that powertrain.

Where each one comes out ahead

Generated from the numbers above, comparing the lowest fuel cost configurations. No subjective judgements.

Honda Civic

Lower annual fuel cost: $1,330 vs $1,360
Higher combined rating: 49 MPG vs 48 MPG
Higher highway rating: 47 MPG vs 44 MPG
Lower annual cost for the best gas configuration: $1,810 vs $2,040

Honda Accord

Higher city rating: 51 MPG vs 50 MPG

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Honda Civic and Honda Accord
Model year	Honda Civic		Honda Accord
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	24–49 MPG	$1,330–$3,300	31–48 MPG	$1,360–$2,080
2025	24–49 MPG	$1,330–$3,300	32–48 MPG	$1,360–$2,040
2024	24–36 MPG	$1,800–$3,300	32–48 MPG	$1,360–$2,040
2023	24–36 MPG	$1,800–$3,300	32–48 MPG	$1,360–$2,040
2022	29–36 MPG	$1,800–$2,560	26–47 MPG	$1,380–$2,520
2021	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,270	26–48 MPG	$1,360–$2,520
2020	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,270	26–48 MPG	$1,370–$2,540
2019	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,280	26–48 MPG	$1,350–$2,540
2018	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,280	26–47 MPG	$1,380–$2,540
2017	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,270	21–48 MPG	$1,370–$3,040
2016	30–35 MPG	$1,860–$2,160	21–30 MPG	$2,160–$3,040
2015	25–44 MPG	$1,490–$3,190	21–47 MPG	$1,400–$3,040
2014	25–44 MPG	$1,490–$3,190	21–47 MPG	$1,210–$3,040
2013	25–44 MPG	$1,500–$3,220	21–30 MPG	$2,200–$3,040
2012	25–44 MPG	$1,500–$3,220	21–27 MPG	$2,450–$3,180
2011	24–41 MPG	$1,590–$3,360	21–26 MPG	$2,470–$3,180
2010	24–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,360	20–25 MPG	$2,610–$3,270
2009	24–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,350	20–25 MPG	$2,610–$3,270
2008	24–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,350	20–25 MPG	$2,610–$3,270
2007	23–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,490	21–27 MPG	$2,420–$3,110
2006	23–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,490	21–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,110
2005	25–41 MPG	$1,590–$2,610	21–28 MPG	$2,330–$3,110
2004	25–41 MPG	$1,590–$2,610	21–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,110
2003	25–41 MPG	$1,590–$2,610	21–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,110
2002	25–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,610	21–25 MPG	$2,610–$3,110
2001	28–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,250	21–25 MPG	$2,610–$3,110
2000	25–33 MPG	$1,980–$3,210	21–24 MPG	$2,720–$3,110

Earlier model years are costed with today's fuel prices, so the table shows how each model's efficiency changed, not what fuel cost at the time. Ranges cover every configuration of that model year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to fuel, the Honda Civic or the Honda Accord?

The Honda Civic is cheaper: about $1,330 a year against $1,360 for the Honda Accord, a difference of $30 a year. That compares the lowest-cost configuration of each in model year 2026 at 15,000 miles a year with the same fuel prices.

How much would the Honda Civic save over five years?

About $150 ($30 a year for five years), assuming 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel prices. Your total depends on how much you drive and on local prices; see fuel cost by state.

Which has the better fuel economy rating, the Honda Civic or the Honda Accord?

The Honda Civic is rated 49 MPG combined against 48 MPG for the Honda Accord. City: 50 MPG vs 51 MPG. Highway: 47 MPG vs 44 MPG. These are the EPA ratings of each model's lowest-cost configuration.

How is the annual fuel cost calculated?

Distance of 15,000 miles a year at the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Gasoline is priced at $4.36/gal (EIA U.S. average for regular, Sep 2026) and electricity at 18.3¢/kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, Jul 2026); premium and diesel configurations use their own EIA prices. Each result is rounded to $10, and differences are calculated from the rounded figures.

Are the Honda Civic and the Honda Accord in the same class?

Yes. The EPA classes both as Midsize cars.

Explore these cars

More comparisons

EPA ratings: fueleconomy.gov file of Sep 29, 2026 · Prices: EIA regular gasoline, U.S. avg, Sep 2026 ($4.36/gal); residential electricity, U.S. avg, Jul 2026 (18.3¢/kWh) · 15,000 mi/yr, 55% city, same prices for both vehicles