Kia averages 27.3 mpg combined across 22 petrol and diesel models (1993–2027). The best on record does 53 mpg, the thirstiest 15 — a yearly fuel gap of about $1,835. Its 4 electric models sit apart at 108.8 MPGe — 31 kWh per 100 miles, about $632 a year to charge, which is $775 less than the average Kia costs to fuel.
What that actually costs
What a Kia costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 27.3 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,407 |
| Most frugal on record | 53 mpg — $725 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 15 mpg — $2,560 a year |
| Its electric models | 108.8 MPGe — $632 a year to charge |
Kia models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Niro | 53 / 46 | $780 | |
| Kia K4 | 34 / 33 | $1,146 | |
| Kia Forte | 35 / 29 | $1,196 | |
| Kia K5 | 32 / 30 | $1,239 | |
| Kia Rio | 36 / 25 | $1,255 | |
| Kia Seltos | 31 / 29 | $1,255 | |
| Kia Optima | 42 / 19 | $1,311 | |
| Kia Soul | 31 / 26 | $1,333 | |
| Kia Forte Koup | 28 / 28 | $1,371 | |
| Kia Sportage | 43 / 18 | $1,483 | |
| Kia Sephia | 28 / 23 | $1,500 | |
| Kia Sorento | 37 / 15 | $1,512 | |
| Kia Carnival | 33 / 21 | $1,524 | |
| Kia Spectra | 27 / 23 | $1,536 | |
| Kia Telluride | 35 / 22 | $1,593 | |
| Kia Cadenza | 23 / 22 | $1,699 | |
| Kia Stinger | 25 / 20 | $1,707 | |
| Kia Rondo | 22 / 20 | $1,794 | |
| Kia K900 | 21 / 18 | $1,969 | |
| Kia Sedona | 21 / 16 | $2,000 | |
| Kia Amanti | 19 / 18 | $2,076 | |
| Kia Borrego | 18 / 18 | $2,133 |
The electric Kias, measured differently
Kia has 4 models that never visit a filling station, averaging 108.8 MPGe. That figure looks four times better than the 27.3 mpg the petrol Kias manage, but the two are not the same unit — so we keep them apart and price the electric ones in kilowatt-hours.
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
Kia rests on 335 EPA ratings covering 22 models from 1993 to 2027, plus 4 electric ones counted separately in MPGe. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Kia gas mileage?
27.3 mpg combined across 22 models and 335 EPA ratings, from 1993 to 2027 — 34 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Kia does today.
Which Kia model is the most economical?
The Kia Niro at 49.2 mpg, about $780 a year in fuel, against the Borrego at 18.0 mpg and $2,133 — a gap of $1,353 a year between the two ends of the same badge.
How much does a Kia cost to run?
About $1,407 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $7,035, before a single service.
Does Kia make anything electric?
Yes — 4 models, rated 108.8 MPGe rather than in mpg, which works out to 31 kWh per 100 miles and roughly $632 a year at the socket. That is $775 less than the average petrol Kia, though the two ratings are not in the same unit.
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