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Toyota Prius 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 $1,150 for the Toyota Prius (Prius, 57 MPG combined). That is $390 a year, or $1,950 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: Midsize cars
  • Hybrid
  • Midsize cars

Toyota Prius

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Prius

57 MPG
Combined
57 MPG
City
56 MPG
Highway
Annual fuel cost
$1,150

$7.67 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

4 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Wagons
  • Electric
  • Wagons

Nissan Leaf

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Leaf 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)

121 MPGe
Combined
131 MPGe
City
111 MPGe
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 Prius$1,150 a year · $7.67 per 100 mi
  • Nissan Leaf$760 a year · $5.07 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$390

Nissan Leaf costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$1,950

$390 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure Toyota Prius Nissan Leaf
Lowest-cost configuration PriusLeaf 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)
Powertrain HybridElectric
Combined rating 57 MPG121 MPGe
City rating 57 MPG131 MPGe
Highway rating 56 MPG111 MPGe
EPA range —303 mi
Electricity use —28 kWh/100 mi
Annual fuel cost $1,150/yr$760/yr (better)
Cost per 100 miles $7.67$5.07 (better)
Annual cost range, all configurations $1,150–$1,330$760–$900
Configurations in MY2026 43
EPA class Midsize carsWagons

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf
Powertrain Toyota Prius Nissan Leaf
Hybrid 57 MPG · $1,150/yr Prius 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 Prius

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

Nissan Leaf

  • Lower annual fuel cost: $760 vs $1,150
  • Offers electric configurations in MY2026; the Toyota Prius 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 Prius and Nissan Leaf
Model year Toyota Prius Nissan Leaf
CombinedPer yearCombinedPer year
2026 49–57 MPG $1,150–$1,330 103–121 MPGe $760–$900
2025 48–57 MPG $870–$1,330 109–111 MPGe $840–$850
2024 49–57 MPG $1,150–$1,330 109–111 MPGe $840–$850
2023 49–57 MPG $1,150–$1,330 109–111 MPGe $840–$850
2022 49–56 MPG $1,170–$1,330 104–111 MPGe $840–$890
2021 49–56 MPG $1,170–$1,330 104–111 MPGe $840–$890
2020 46–56 MPG $1,170–$1,410 104–111 MPGe $840–$890
2019 50–56 MPG $1,170–$1,310 104–112 MPGe $830–$890
2018 52–56 MPG $1,170–$1,250 112 MPGe $820
2017 52–56 MPG $1,170–$1,260 112 MPGe $820
2016 52–56 MPG $1,170–$1,250 112–114 MPGe $810–$820
2015 48–50 MPG $1,200–$1,370 114 MPGe $810
2014 48–50 MPG $1,200–$1,370 114 MPGe $820
2013 48–50 MPG $1,200–$1,370 115 MPGe $800
2012 48–50 MPG $1,200–$1,370 99 MPGe $930
2011 48 MPG $1,370 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 Prius or the Nissan Leaf?

The Nissan Leaf is cheaper: about $760 a year against $1,150 for the Toyota Prius, a difference of $390 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 $1,950 ($390 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 Prius 57 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 $1,150) 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 Prius and the Nissan Leaf in the same class?

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

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