2018 Hyundai Elantra MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is rated 25 to 35 mpg combined across 10 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual.

EPA fuel economy

2018 Hyundai Elantra · 10 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

35MPG combined

32 city 40 highway

$1,800 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score8/10

1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual

Best version saves $2,000 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,800 to $2,500 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2017.

Fewer complaints than a typical Elantra year

The 2018 drew 78 owner complaints in its first three years, against 101 for a typical Elantra year.

Years to avoid: 2013; best years: 2016 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Elantra year ranked The 2018 Elantra's recalls and problems

Every 2018 Elantra version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual Best EPA listing: Elantra	35 mpg	32 / 40	$1,800
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · SE EPA listing: Elantra SE	33 mpg	29 / 38	$1,900
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Elantra	32 mpg	28 / 37	$1,950
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual EPA listing: Elantra	29 mpg	26 / 33	$2,150
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Elantra	29 mpg	26 / 36	$2,150
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual · GT EPA listing: Elantra GT	28 mpg	26 / 32	$2,200
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · GT EPA listing: Elantra GT	27 mpg	24 / 32	$2,300
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · GT EPA listing: Elantra GT	26 mpg	23 / 31	$2,400
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Elantra	25 mpg	22 / 30	$2,500
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · GT EPA listing: Elantra GT	25 mpg	22 / 29	$2,500

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual	$1,714	$143	$8,571
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · SE	$1,818	$152	$9,091
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$1,875	$156	$9,375
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual	$2,069	$172	$10,345
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,069	$172	$10,345
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual · GT	$2,143	$179	$10,714
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · GT	$2,222	$185	$11,111
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · GT	$2,308	$192	$11,538
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,400	$200	$12,000
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · GT	$2,400	$200	$12,000

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Hyundai Elantra MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 29 to 37 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2021. Hybrid: 54 mpg (2021 to 2026).

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2018: gas 35 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Hyundai Elantra best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	29	–
2011	32	–
2012	32	–
2013	32	–
2014	31	–
2015	31	–
2016	31	–
2017	35	–
2018	35	–
2019	35	–
2020	36	–
2021	37	54
2022	37	54
2023	37	54
2024	36	54
2025	36	54
2026	35	54

Every Elantra year's ratings in one table

How the 2018 Elantra compares

2018 compact cars covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2018 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Prius Best: hybrid	56 mpg	–	$1,100
Honda Civic Best: gas	36 mpg	36 mpg	$1,750
Hyundai Elantra This page Best: gas	35 mpg	35 mpg	$1,800
Toyota Corolla Best: gas	34 mpg	34 mpg	$1,850
Volkswagen Jetta Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Nissan Sentra Best: gas	32 mpg	32 mpg	$1,950
Kia Forte Best: gas	32 mpg	32 mpg	$1,950
Mazda3 Best: gas	32 mpg	32 mpg	$1,950

Hyundai Elantra vs Honda CivicMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2018 Elantra recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 335 owner complaints for the 2018 Elantra.

Owners most often describe stalling (73 complaints, 22%), then engine failure (55). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2018 Elantra recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2018 Hyundai Elantra need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2018 Hyundai Elantra version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2018 Elantra's MPG compare with the 2017?

For 2018, the best gas version is rated 35 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.