2018 Toyota RAV4 MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2018 Toyota RAV4 gets up to 26 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 32 mpg as a hybrid, across 5 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2018 Toyota RAV4 · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

26MPG combined

23 city 30 highway

$2,400 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · LE XLE

Best hybrid version

32MPG combined

34 city 30 highway

$1,950 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT

Best version saves $1,250 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 $1,950 to $2,600 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2017.

Fewer complaints than a typical RAV4 year

The 2018 drew 122 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 2018 RAV4's recalls and problems

Every 2018 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
Hybrid
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT Best EPA listing: RAV4 Hybrid AWD	32 mpg	34 / 30	$1,950
Gas
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · LE XLE EPA listing: RAV4 LE/XLE	26 mpg	23 / 30	$2,400
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: RAV4 AWD	25 mpg	22 / 28	$2,500
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: RAV4	25 mpg	23 / 29	$2,500
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Limited SE EPA listing: RAV4 Limited AWD/SE AWD	24 mpg	22 / 28	$2,600

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
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$1,875	$156	$9,375
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · LE XLE	$2,308	$192	$11,538
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Limited SE	$2,500	$208	$12,500

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

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

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

2018: gas 26 mpg · hybrid 32 mpg

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 2018 RAV4 compares

2018 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.

2018 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Nissan Rogue Best: hybrid	34 mpg	29 mpg	$1,850
Toyota RAV4 This page Best: hybrid	32 mpg	26 mpg	$1,950
Chevrolet Equinox Best: diesel	32 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
GMC Terrain Best: diesel	32 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Honda CR-V Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,100
Mazda CX-5 Best: diesel	29 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Subaru Outback Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Subaru Forester Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300
Ford Escape Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Kia Sportage Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Jeep Compass Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Jeep Cherokee Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600

2018 RAV4 recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 348 owner complaints for the 2018 RAV4.

Owners most often describe stalling (35 complaints, 10%), then smoke or a burning smell (25). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2018 RAV4 recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2018 Toyota RAV4's gas mileage?

No. Versions that differ only in drive share the same combined rating: the 2.5L 4-cyl gets 25 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 25 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2018 RAV4 hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,950 a year to fuel against $2,500 for the gas model: $550 a year, or $2,750 over five years.

Does the 2018 Toyota RAV4 need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2018 Toyota RAV4 version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2018 RAV4's MPG compare with the 2017?

For 2018, the best gas version is rated 26 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 32 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.