2021 head-to-head · Small SUV

2021 Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Highlander

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,860/ year to fuel
25 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,938/ year to fuel
24 MPG

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,860 a year to fuel (25 MPG), versus $1,938 for the 2021 Toyota Highlander (24 MPG). That's roughly $78 a year, or about $388 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Toyota Highlander

Side by side

Hyundai TucsonToyota Highlander
$1,860 Your annual fuel cost $1,938
25 MPG Combined efficiency 24 MPG
23 MPG City 21 MPG
28 MPG Highway 29 MPG
361 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 372 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl Engine / motor 3.5L 6-cyl
6-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Highlander across model years

  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Toyota Highlander

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Among 92 2021 small SUVs, the Hyundai Tucson ranks 47th and the Toyota Highlander 53rd for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson or the 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Measured by cost to drive, the Hyundai Tucson. The Hyundai Tucson is rated 25 MPG combined and the Toyota Highlander 24 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Hyundai Tucson vs. the Toyota Highlander per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,860 for the Hyundai Tucson and $1,938 for the Toyota Highlander.

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Highlander in other years

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