Toyota Corolla vs Nissan Leaf: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Nissan Leaf is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $760 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Leaf 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels), 121 MPGe combined), against $1,310 for the Toyota Corolla (Corolla Hybrid, 50 MPG combined). That is $550 a year, or $2,750 over five years.

One of the two is electric-only; the other has no electric configuration in this model year. 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: Wagons

Electric
Wagons

Nissan Leaf

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Leaf 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$760

$5.07 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

303 mi EPA range · 28 kWh/100 mi

3 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
Nissan Leaf$760 a year · $5.07 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$550

Nissan Leaf costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$2,750

$550 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Toyota Corolla and Nissan Leaf compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Toyota Corolla	Nissan Leaf
Lowest-cost configuration	Corolla Hybrid	Leaf 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)
Powertrain	Hybrid	Electric
Combined rating	50 MPG	121 MPGe
City rating	53 MPG	131 MPGe
Highway rating	46 MPG	111 MPGe
EPA range	—	303 mi
Electricity use	—	28 kWh/100 mi
Annual fuel cost	$1,310/yr	$760/yr (better)
Cost per 100 miles	$8.73	$5.07 (better)
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,310–$3,600	$760–$900
Configurations in MY2026	12	3
EPA class	Small cars	Wagons

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Leaf
Powertrain	Toyota Corolla	Nissan Leaf
Gas	35 MPG · $1,870/yr Corolla (1-mode TM)	Not offered in MY2026
Hybrid	50 MPG · $1,310/yr Corolla Hybrid	Not offered in MY2026
Electric	Not offered in MY2026	121 MPGe · $760/yr Leaf 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)

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

Offers gas configurations in MY2026; the Nissan Leaf does not
Offers hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Nissan Leaf does not

Nissan Leaf

Lower annual fuel cost: $760 vs $1,310
Offers electric configurations in MY2026; the Toyota Corolla does not

Ratings in MPG and MPGe are not compared directly here; annual fuel cost is the common yardstick.

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Leaf
Model year	Toyota Corolla		Nissan Leaf
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	22–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,600	103–121 MPGe	$760–$900
2025	22–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,600	109–111 MPGe	$840–$850
2024	24–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,360	109–111 MPGe	$840–$850
2023	24–50 MPG	$1,310–$3,360	109–111 MPGe	$840–$850
2022	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,090	104–111 MPGe	$840–$890
2021	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,110	104–111 MPGe	$840–$890
2020	31–52 MPG	$1,260–$2,080	104–111 MPGe	$840–$890
2019	30–36 MPG	$1,830–$2,150	104–112 MPGe	$830–$890
2018	30–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,200	112 MPGe	$820
2017	30–34 MPG	$1,920–$2,200	112 MPGe	$820
2016	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	112–114 MPGe	$810–$820
2015	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	114 MPGe	$810
2014	30–34 MPG	$1,930–$2,150	114 MPGe	$820
2013	29 MPG	$2,220–$2,290	115 MPGe	$800
2012	29 MPG	$2,220–$2,270	99 MPGe	$930
2011	24–30 MPG	$2,170–$2,670	99 MPGe	$930

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 Nissan Leaf?

The Nissan Leaf is cheaper: about $760 a year against $1,310 for the Toyota Corolla, a difference of $550 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 Nissan Leaf save over five years?

About $2,750 ($550 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.

Can MPG and MPGe be compared?

The Nissan Leaf is rated 121 MPGe and the Toyota Corolla 50 MPG. MPGe is the EPA's way of expressing electric efficiency per 33.7 kWh, the energy in a gallon of gasoline. It is a different measure from gasoline MPG, so annual fuel cost ($760 vs $1,310) is the better yardstick.

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 Nissan Leaf in the same class?

The EPA classes the Toyota Corolla as Small cars and the Nissan Leaf as Wagons, so they are listed as an electric-versus-gasoline comparison.

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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