Gallonly ES
Menu

Language

EnglishEspañol

Theme

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Toyota Corolla is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,310 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Corolla Hybrid, 50 MPG combined), against $1,330 for the Honda Civic (Civic 4Dr, 49 MPG combined). That is $20 a year, or $100 over five years.

A frequently cross-shopped pair of rivals. 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.

The EPA is still publishing model year 2027 ratings, so this page compares model year 2026, the latest complete year.

Illustration: Midsize cars
  • Hybrid
  • Midsize cars

Honda Civic

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Civic 4Dr

49 MPG
Combined
50 MPG
City
47 MPG
Highway
Annual fuel cost
$1,330

$8.87 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

7 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Small cars
  • Hybrid
  • Small cars

Toyota Corolla

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Corolla Hybrid

50 MPG
Combined
53 MPG
City
46 MPG
Highway
Annual fuel cost
$1,310

$8.73 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

12 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
  • Toyota Corolla$1,310 a year · $8.73 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$20

Toyota Corolla costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$100

$20 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure Honda Civic Toyota Corolla
Lowest-cost configuration Civic 4DrCorolla Hybrid
Powertrain HybridHybrid
Combined rating 49 MPG50 MPG (better)
City rating 50 MPG53 MPG (better)
Highway rating 47 MPG (better)46 MPG
Annual fuel cost $1,330/yr$1,310/yr (better)
Cost per 100 miles $8.87$8.73 (better)
Annual cost range, all configurations $1,330–$3,300$1,310–$3,600
Configurations in MY2026 712
EPA class Midsize carsSmall cars

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla
Powertrain Honda Civic Toyota Corolla
Gas 36 MPG · $1,810/yr Civic 4Dr 35 MPG · $1,870/yr Corolla (1-mode TM)
Hybrid 49 MPG · $1,330/yr Civic 4Dr 50 MPG · $1,310/yr Corolla 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

  • Higher highway rating: 47 MPG vs 46 MPG
  • Lower annual cost for the best gas configuration: $1,810 vs $1,870

Toyota Corolla

  • Lower annual fuel cost: $1,310 vs $1,330
  • Higher combined rating: 50 MPG vs 49 MPG
  • Higher city rating: 53 MPG vs 50 MPG

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla
Model year Honda Civic Toyota Corolla
CombinedPer yearCombinedPer year
2026 24–49 MPG $1,330–$3,300 22–50 MPG $1,310–$3,600
2025 24–49 MPG $1,330–$3,300 22–50 MPG $1,310–$3,600
2024 24–36 MPG $1,800–$3,300 24–50 MPG $1,310–$3,360
2023 24–36 MPG $1,800–$3,300 24–50 MPG $1,310–$3,360
2022 29–36 MPG $1,800–$2,560 31–52 MPG $1,260–$2,090
2021 25–36 MPG $1,830–$3,270 31–52 MPG $1,260–$2,110
2020 25–36 MPG $1,830–$3,270 31–52 MPG $1,260–$2,080
2019 25–36 MPG $1,830–$3,280 30–36 MPG $1,830–$2,150
2018 25–36 MPG $1,830–$3,280 30–34 MPG $1,920–$2,200
2017 25–36 MPG $1,830–$3,270 30–34 MPG $1,920–$2,200
2016 30–35 MPG $1,860–$2,160 30–34 MPG $1,930–$2,150
2015 25–44 MPG $1,490–$3,190 30–34 MPG $1,930–$2,150
2014 25–44 MPG $1,490–$3,190 30–34 MPG $1,930–$2,150
2013 25–44 MPG $1,500–$3,220 29 MPG $2,220–$2,290
2012 25–44 MPG $1,500–$3,220 29 MPG $2,220–$2,270
2011 24–41 MPG $1,590–$3,360 24–30 MPG $2,170–$2,670
2010 24–42 MPG $1,560–$3,360 25–30 MPG $2,180–$2,610
2009 24–42 MPG $1,560–$3,350 25–30 MPG $2,180–$2,610
2008 24–42 MPG $1,560–$3,350 29–31 MPG $2,110–$2,250
2007 23–42 MPG $1,560–$3,490 29–31 MPG $2,110–$2,250
2006 23–42 MPG $1,560–$3,490 25–31 MPG $2,110–$3,210
2005 25–41 MPG $1,590–$2,610 25–31 MPG $2,110–$3,210
2004 25–41 MPG $1,590–$2,610 28–31 MPG $2,110–$2,330
2003 25–41 MPG $1,590–$2,610 28–31 MPG $2,110–$2,330
2002 25–34 MPG $1,920–$2,610 27–31 MPG $2,110–$2,420
2001 28–34 MPG $1,920–$2,250 27–31 MPG $2,110–$2,420
2000 25–33 MPG $1,980–$3,210 26–30 MPG $2,180–$2,510

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 Toyota Corolla?

The Toyota Corolla is cheaper: about $1,310 a year against $1,330 for the Honda Civic, a difference of $20 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 Toyota Corolla save over five years?

About $100 ($20 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 Toyota Corolla?

The Toyota Corolla is rated 50 MPG combined against 49 MPG for the Honda Civic. City: 50 MPG vs 53 MPG. Highway: 47 MPG vs 46 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 Toyota Corolla in the same class?

The EPA classes the Honda Civic as Midsize cars and the Toyota Corolla as Small cars, so they are listed as rivals.

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