Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Hyundai Elantra is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,220 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Elantra Hybrid Blue, 54 MPG combined), against $1,310 for the Toyota Corolla (Corolla Hybrid, 50 MPG combined). That is $90 a year, or $450 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: Small cars

Hybrid
Small cars

Toyota Corolla

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Corolla Hybrid

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,310

$8.73 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

12 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Midsize cars

Hybrid
Midsize cars

Hyundai Elantra

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Elantra Hybrid Blue

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,220

$8.13 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

7 configurations in MY2026

What the fuel costs

Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration

Toyota Corolla$1,310 a year · $8.73 per 100 mi
Hyundai Elantra$1,220 a year · $8.13 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$90

Hyundai Elantra costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$450

$90 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Toyota Corolla	Hyundai Elantra
Lowest-cost configuration	Corolla Hybrid	Elantra Hybrid Blue
Powertrain	Hybrid	Hybrid
Combined rating	50 MPG	54 MPG (better)
City rating	53 MPG (better)	51 MPG
Highway rating	46 MPG	58 MPG (better)
Annual fuel cost	$1,310/yr	$1,220/yr (better)
Cost per 100 miles	$8.73	$8.13 (better)
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,310–$3,600	$1,220–$3,550
Configurations in MY2026	12	7
EPA class	Small cars	Midsize cars

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra
Powertrain	Toyota Corolla	Hyundai Elantra
Gas	35 MPG · $1,870/yr Corolla (1-mode TM)	35 MPG · $1,880/yr Elantra w/Stop-Start
Hybrid	50 MPG · $1,310/yr Corolla Hybrid	54 MPG · $1,220/yr Elantra Hybrid Blue

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.

Toyota Corolla

Higher city rating: 53 MPG vs 51 MPG
Lower annual cost for the best gas configuration: $1,870 vs $1,880

Hyundai Elantra

Lower annual fuel cost: $1,220 vs $1,310
Higher combined rating: 54 MPG vs 50 MPG
Higher highway rating: 58 MPG vs 46 MPG

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra
Model year	Toyota Corolla		Hyundai Elantra
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	22–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,600	23–54 MPG	$1,220–$3,550
2025	22–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,600	23–54 MPG	$1,220–$3,550
2024	24–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,360	23–54 MPG	$1,220–$3,550
2023	24–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,360	23–54 MPG	$1,210–$3,490
2022	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,090	23–54 MPG	$1,210–$3,490
2021	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,110	28–54 MPG	$1,210–$2,320
2020	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,080	26–36 MPG	$1,810–$2,560
2019	30–36 MPG	$1,830–$2,150	25–35 MPG	$1,880–$2,610
2018	30–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,200	25–35 MPG	$1,880–$2,660
2017	30–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,200	25–35 MPG	$1,880–$2,610
2016	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	27–31 MPG	$2,090–$2,420
2015	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	27–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,410
2014	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	27–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,420
2013	29 MPG	$2,220–$2,290	30–32 MPG	$2,040–$2,180
2012	29 MPG	$2,220–$2,270	26–32 MPG	$2,040–$2,540
2011	24–30 MPG	$2,170–$2,670	26–32 MPG	$2,020–$2,540
2010	25–30 MPG	$2,180–$2,610	26–29 MPG	$2,250–$2,510
2009	25–30 MPG	$2,180–$2,610	26–28 MPG	$2,330–$2,510
2008	29–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,250	27–28 MPG	$2,330–$2,420
2007	29–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,250	27–28 MPG	$2,330–$2,420
2006	25–31 MPG	$2,110–$3,210	24–26 MPG	$2,510–$2,720
2005	25–31 MPG	$2,110–$3,210	24–26 MPG	$2,510–$2,720
2004	28–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,330	24–26 MPG	$2,510–$2,720
2003	28–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,330	25 MPG	$2,610
2002	27–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,420	25 MPG	$2,610
2001	27–31 MPG	$2,110–$2,420	25 MPG	$2,610
2000	26–30 MPG	$2,180–$2,510	22–24 MPG	$2,720–$2,970

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 Toyota Corolla or the Hyundai Elantra?

The Hyundai Elantra is cheaper: about $1,220 a year against $1,310 for the Toyota Corolla, a difference of $90 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 Hyundai Elantra save over five years?

About $450 ($90 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 Toyota Corolla or the Hyundai Elantra?

The Hyundai Elantra is rated 54 MPG combined against 50 MPG for the Toyota Corolla. City: 53 MPG vs 51 MPG. Highway: 46 MPG vs 58 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 Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Elantra in the same class?

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

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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