Toyota RAV4 vs Nissan Rogue: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Toyota RAV4 is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,520 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (RAV4, 43 MPG combined), against $2,050 for the Nissan Rogue (Rogue, 32 MPG combined). That is $530 a year, or $2,650 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.

Illustration: Small SUVs

Hybrid
Small SUVs

Toyota RAV4

Lowest fuel cost configuration

RAV4

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,520

$10.13 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

6 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Small SUVs

Gas
Small SUVs

Nissan Rogue

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Rogue

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$2,050

$13.67 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

3 configurations in MY2026

What the fuel costs

Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration

Toyota RAV4$1,520 a year · $10.13 per 100 mi
Nissan Rogue$2,050 a year · $13.67 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$530

Toyota RAV4 costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$2,650

$530 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Toyota RAV4	Nissan Rogue
Lowest-cost configuration	RAV4	Rogue
Powertrain	Hybrid	Gas
Combined rating	43 MPG (better)	32 MPG
City rating	47 MPG (better)	29 MPG
Highway rating	40 MPG (better)	36 MPG
Annual fuel cost	$1,520/yr (better)	$2,050/yr
Cost per 100 miles	$10.13 (better)	$13.67
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,520–$1,710	$2,050–$2,250
Configurations in MY2026	6	3
EPA class	Small SUVs	Small SUVs

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue
Powertrain	Toyota RAV4	Nissan Rogue
Gas	Not offered in MY2026	32 MPG · $2,050/yr Rogue
Hybrid	43 MPG · $1,520/yr RAV4	Not offered in MY2026

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 RAV4

Lower annual fuel cost: $1,520 vs $2,050
Higher combined rating: 43 MPG vs 32 MPG
Higher city rating: 47 MPG vs 29 MPG
Higher highway rating: 40 MPG vs 36 MPG
Offers hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Nissan Rogue does not

Nissan Rogue

Offers gas configurations in MY2026; the Toyota RAV4 does not

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue
Model year	Toyota RAV4		Nissan Rogue
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	38–43 MPG	$1,520–$1,710	29–32 MPG	$2,050–$2,250
2025	28–39 MPG	$1,210–$2,350	29–33 MPG	$1,980–$2,220
2024	28–39 MPG	$1,660–$2,370	31–33 MPG	$1,980–$2,110
2023	28–40 MPG	$1,630–$2,370	31–33 MPG	$1,960–$2,110
2022	28–40 MPG	$1,630–$2,370	31–33 MPG	$1,960–$2,110
2021	28–40 MPG	$1,630–$2,370	28–33 MPG	$1,960–$2,330
2020	27–40 MPG	$1,630–$2,380	27–29 MPG	$2,290–$2,380
2019	28–40 MPG	$1,630–$2,330	27–34 MPG	$1,900–$2,380
2018	24–32 MPG	$2,030–$2,690	27–34 MPG	$1,900–$2,420
2017	24–32 MPG	$2,030–$2,690	27–34 MPG	$1,900–$2,420
2016	24–32 MPG	$2,030–$2,680	27–28 MPG	$2,310–$2,390
2015	24–26 MPG	$2,500–$2,680	24–28 MPG	$2,320–$2,770
2014	24–26 MPG	$1,210–$2,680	24–28 MPG	$2,330–$2,730
2013	25–26 MPG	$1,210–$2,650	24–25 MPG	$2,630–$2,760
2012	22–24 MPG	$1,210–$3,020	23–25 MPG	$2,630–$2,790
2011	21–24 MPG	$2,730–$3,060	24 MPG	$2,670–$2,760
2010	21–24 MPG	$2,720–$3,110	23–24 MPG	$2,720–$2,840
2009	21–24 MPG	$2,720–$3,110	23–24 MPG	$2,720–$2,840
2008	21–24 MPG	$2,720–$3,110	23–24 MPG	$2,720–$2,840

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. Electric configurations are not included in the MPG range of a year that also has other powertrains.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to fuel, the Toyota RAV4 or the Nissan Rogue?

The Toyota RAV4 is cheaper: about $1,520 a year against $2,050 for the Nissan Rogue, a difference of $530 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 RAV4 save over five years?

About $2,650 ($530 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 RAV4 or the Nissan Rogue?

The Toyota RAV4 is rated 43 MPG combined against 32 MPG for the Nissan Rogue. City: 47 MPG vs 29 MPG. Highway: 40 MPG vs 36 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 RAV4 and the Nissan Rogue in the same class?

Yes. The EPA classes both as Small SUVs.

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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