The 2025 Honda Civic Type R achieves 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined according to EPA ratings[1]. With a 12.4-gallon fuel tank, you can expect roughly 273 miles of city driving range or 347 miles on the highway per fill-up[2]. Real-world owner reports suggest average fuel economy between 23-27 mpg depending on driving style[3].
The 2025 Civic Type R runs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque[4]. Despite packing serious performance credentials, Honda managed to extract respectable efficiency from the VTEC powerplant.
| Metric | Rating |
|---|---|
| City MPG | 22 mpg |
| Highway MPG | 28 mpg |
| Combined MPG | 24 mpg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 12.4 gallons |
| City Range | ~273 miles |
| Highway Range | ~347 miles |
| Required Fuel | Premium unleaded |
The 2025 model shows a slight improvement over the 2024 Civic Type R, which managed 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway[5]. If you're wondering what gas does the Civic Type R take, Honda recommends premium unleaded for optimal performance.
Here's where things get interesting. EPA numbers rarely tell the full story. During Car and Driver's 75-mph highway fuel economy test, the Civic Type R actually exceeded its rating, returning 30 mpg[6]. But your mileage may vary—literally.
Owner feedback from dedicated Civic Type R communities paints a nuanced picture. One FL5 owner noted averaging 23-24 mpg with mixed driving, while highway-focused trips at 70-85 mph yielded 27.5 mpg[3]. Another owner reported trip computer readings showing 32 mpg on sustained highway cruises[7].
The driving mode you select impacts consumption significantly. In R+ mode (the aggressive setting), owners report 18-22 mpg. Switch to Comfort mode and drive conservatively, and you might see 26-30 mpg[8]. The catch? If you bought a Type R to drive like a snail, you probably grabbed the wrong keys.
Several variables determine where your actual numbers land:
The small 12.4-gallon tank is one owner complaint worth noting. Several enthusiasts wish Honda had fitted a larger tank given the high-output engine[10]. You'll find yourself at the pump more often than in a standard Civic—plan on roughly 250-300 miles between stops with mixed driving.
How does the Type R stack up against its hot hatch rivals? The numbers reveal trade-offs between performance and efficiency.
| Model | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Honda Civic Type R | 22 | 28 | 24 | FWD |
| 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | 22 | 31 | 26 | AWD |
| 2025 Honda Civic Si | ~27 | ~37 | ~30 | FWD |
The Volkswagen Golf R edges out the Type R by 3 mpg on the highway when equipped with its DSG automatic transmission[6]. The Golf R's all-wheel-drive system and available automatic make it the more efficient choice for highway commuters, though both cars require premium fuel.
The regular Honda Civic Si delivers notably better efficiency—owners report up to 40 mpg on the highway[11]. But you sacrifice over 100 horsepower for that efficiency gain. It comes down to priorities: raw performance or daily drivability.
At current fuel prices, Edmunds estimates the 2025 Civic Type R costs approximately $183 per month to fuel[2]. That translates to roughly $2,200 annually, though your actual costs depend on local premium fuel prices and driving habits.
For context, the Civic Type R starts at $45,895 MSRP[12], making fuel costs a relatively small component of total ownership. If you're cross-shopping performance cars, the Type R's fuel economy actually represents a practical advantage—many sports cars in this power bracket return worse numbers while demanding the same premium fuel.
Want to stretch your range between fill-ups? A few strategies help:
That said, if fuel economy ranked as your primary concern, the Type R probably wasn't meant for you. The car exists to deliver driving thrills. Obsessing over every tenth of an mpg misses the point entirely.
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