Honda Civic vs Toyota Prius: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Toyota Prius is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,150 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Prius, 57 MPG combined), against $1,330 for the Honda Civic (Civic 4Dr, 49 MPG combined). That is $180 a year, or $900 over five years.

One of the two is offered only with a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain in this model year; the other has gasoline configurations. 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

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

Toyota Prius

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Prius

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,150

$7.67 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
Toyota Prius$1,150 a year · $7.67 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$180

Toyota Prius costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$900

$180 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Honda Civic and Toyota Prius compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Honda Civic	Toyota Prius
Lowest-cost configuration	Civic 4Dr	Prius
Powertrain	Hybrid	Hybrid
Combined rating	49 MPG	57 MPG (better)
City rating	50 MPG	57 MPG (better)
Highway rating	47 MPG	56 MPG (better)
Annual fuel cost	$1,330/yr	$1,150/yr (better)
Cost per 100 miles	$8.87	$7.67 (better)
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,330–$3,300	$1,150–$1,330
Configurations in MY2026	7	4
EPA class	Midsize cars	Midsize cars

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Honda Civic and Toyota Prius
Powertrain	Honda Civic	Toyota Prius
Gas	36 MPG · $1,810/yr Civic 4Dr	Not offered in MY2026
Hybrid	49 MPG · $1,330/yr Civic 4Dr	57 MPG · $1,150/yr Prius

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

Offers gas configurations in MY2026; the Toyota Prius does not

Toyota Prius

Lower annual fuel cost: $1,150 vs $1,330
Higher combined rating: 57 MPG vs 49 MPG
Higher city rating: 57 MPG vs 50 MPG
Higher highway rating: 56 MPG vs 47 MPG

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Honda Civic and Toyota Prius
Model year	Honda Civic		Toyota Prius
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	24–49 MPG	$1,330–$3,300	49–57 MPG	$1,150–$1,330
2025	24–49 MPG	$1,330–$3,300	48–57 MPG	$870–$1,330
2024	24–36 MPG	$1,800–$3,300	49–57 MPG	$1,150–$1,330
2023	24–36 MPG	$1,800–$3,300	49–57 MPG	$1,150–$1,330
2022	29–36 MPG	$1,800–$2,560	49–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,330
2021	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,270	49–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,330
2020	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,270	46–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,410
2019	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,280	50–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,310
2018	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,280	52–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,250
2017	25–36 MPG	$1,830–$3,270	52–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,260
2016	30–35 MPG	$1,860–$2,160	52–56 MPG	$1,170–$1,250
2015	25–44 MPG	$1,490–$3,190	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2014	25–44 MPG	$1,490–$3,190	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2013	25–44 MPG	$1,500–$3,220	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2012	25–44 MPG	$1,500–$3,220	48–50 MPG	$1,200–$1,370
2011	24–41 MPG	$1,590–$3,360	48 MPG	$1,370
2010	24–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,360	50 MPG	$1,310
2009	24–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,350	46 MPG	$1,420
2008	24–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,350	46 MPG	$1,420
2007	23–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,490	46 MPG	$1,420
2006	23–42 MPG	$1,560–$3,490	46 MPG	$1,420
2005	25–41 MPG	$1,590–$2,610	46 MPG	$1,420
2004	25–41 MPG	$1,590–$2,610	46 MPG	$1,420
2003	25–41 MPG	$1,590–$2,610	41 MPG	$1,590
2002	25–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,610	41 MPG	$1,590
2001	28–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,250	41 MPG	$1,590

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 Prius?

The Toyota Prius is cheaper: about $1,150 a year against $1,330 for the Honda Civic, a difference of $180 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 Prius save over five years?

About $900 ($180 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 Prius?

The Toyota Prius is rated 57 MPG combined against 49 MPG for the Honda Civic. City: 50 MPG vs 57 MPG. Highway: 47 MPG vs 56 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 Prius 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