FuelFacts

1996 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

Every gas trim of this model takes premium.

19–20
MPG combined (17–18 city / 22–23 hwy)
$3,510–$3,695
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Premium
gas type

Is the 1996 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL good on gas?

At up to 20 MPG combined, the 1996 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL is worse than average for a Compact Cars — that class averages about 24.1 MPG across 6,481 EPA-tested versions, so it's on the thirsty side for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

This 1996 model was originally EPA-tested under the pre-2008 2-cycle method, which didn't account for highway speeds over 60 mph, air-conditioner use, or cold starts. When EPA overhauled the test for model year 2008, city ratings fell by about 12% and highway by about 8% on average industry-wide — and EPA retroactively adjusted every 1984-2007 rating to the stricter standard so old and new cars could be compared fairly. The MPG above is already on that modern scale — the window sticker on this car when it was new likely showed a higher, pre-2008-method number.

At today's AAA national average price — $4.68/gal for premium gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $3,510/year (roughly $292/month, about $23.40 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 750 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

1996 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, FWDPREMIUM20$3,510
3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, FWDPREMIUM19$3,695
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

1996 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options2.5L 5-cyl · 3.2L 6-cyl
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Drive typeFWD
EPA body classCompact Cars
FuelPremium

Other years of the Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL

1998 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL1997 Acura 2.5TL/3.2TL

Similar cars (Compact Cars)

1996 Geo Prizm1996 Hyundai Accent (Sporty)1996 Mercedes-Benz E300 Diesel1996 Chevrolet Beretta1996 Chevrolet Corsica1996 Mercedes-Benz C220

Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides

2 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.