2010 Toyota RAV4 MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2010 Toyota RAV4 is rated 21 to 24 mpg combined across 4 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2010 Toyota RAV4 · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

24MPG combined

21 city 27 highway

$2,800 a year to fuel

2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic

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

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,800 to $3,200 a year.

More complaints than a typical RAV4 year

The 2010 drew 137 owner complaints in its first three years, against 130 for a typical RAV4 year.

Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every RAV4 year ranked The 2010 RAV4's recalls and problems

Every 2010 RAV4 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
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic Best EPA listing: RAV4 4WD	24 mpg	21 / 27	$2,800
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: RAV4 2WD	24 mpg	22 / 28	$2,800
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: RAV4 2WD	22 mpg	19 / 27	$3,050
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: RAV4 4WD	21 mpg	19 / 26	$3,200

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic	$2,794	$233	$13,969
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 4-speed automatic	$2,794	$233	$13,969
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,048	$254	$15,239
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,193	$266	$15,964

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

Toyota RAV4 MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 24 to 30 mpg (2010 to 2025); 30 since 2019. Hybrid: 32 to 43 mpg (2016 to 2026); highest in 2026.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2010: gas 24 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Toyota RAV4 best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	24	–
2011	24	–
2012	24	–
2013	26	–
2014	26	–
2015	26	–
2016	26	32
2017	26	32
2018	26	32
2019	30	40
2020	30	40
2021	30	40
2022	30	40
2023	30	40
2024	30	39
2025	30	39
2026	–	43

Every RAV4 year's ratings in one table

How the 2010 RAV4 compares

2010 compact SUVs 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.

2010 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Ford Escape Best: hybrid	32 mpg	24 mpg	$2,100
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
GMC Terrain Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
Jeep Compass Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Toyota RAV4 This page Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Honda CR-V Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Subaru Outback Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Subaru Forester Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$3,050
Kia Sportage Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$3,050
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,900

2010 RAV4 recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 400 owner complaints for the 2010 RAV4.

Owners most often describe unintended acceleration (44 complaints, 11%).

See the 2010 RAV4 recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2010 Toyota RAV4's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 2.5L 4-cyl gets 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 24 with AWD.

Does the 2010 Toyota RAV4 need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2010 Toyota RAV4 version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 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.