The Real Cost
Week of September 21, 2026 · New Orleans, LA
2027 Volkswagen Taos
14.5 gal tank · 30 MPG · manufacturer spec
$49–$58
typical fill → full tank · 14.5 galAt $3.97/gal, this tank gets you about 435 miles.
Source: EIA · Updated September 21, 2026
12-week state trend · padd proxy
+$0.63 over 12 wk
Local context
New Orleans runs at $3.97/gal this week — about 11.3% below the U.S. average of $4.48. At this price the 2027 Volkswagen Taos's 30 MPG returns roughly 7.6 miles per dollar (33.3 gallons per 1,000 miles).
At a typical 12,000 miles a year — the U.S. driving average — a New Orleans driver spends about $1,589 on gas in this car (use the calculator for your own mileage). For the same car, $2,401 in California (priciest reporting state at $6.00/gal) vs. $1,572 in Texas ($3.93/gal). $830 swing.
By the numbers
Fill cost
$49–$58
typical → full · 435 mi/tank
Per gallon
$3.97
EIA Gulf Coast weekly
Monthly · 12k mi/yr
$132.40
33.3 gal
Annual · 12k mi/yr
$1589
400 gal
The math
Why it costs what it costs.
- Fill cost = 14.5 gal × $3.97/gal = $57.59
- Miles per tank = 14.5 × 30 = 435
- Annual @ 12,000 mi (typical) = 12,000 ÷ 30 × $3.97 = $1589
Want to customize miles per year or override the pump price you saw? Use the full calculator.