The Kia Borrego does 18 mpg combined (16 city, 21.5 highway), which works out to about $2,133 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.8L 6-cyl does 18 mpg while 4.6L 8-cyl does 18 — a difference of $0 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Kia Borrego engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Kia Borrego ranges from 18 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $0 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 17 / 21 | 2009–2011 | $2,133 | |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 15 / 22 | 2009–2011 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Kia Borrego burns a gallon every 18 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 667 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.178 |
| Fuel per year | $2,133 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,665 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$203 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,450 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Kia Borrego gives up 5.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.5 out there against 16 in town, a 34% drop worth $614 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 16 mpg | $2,400 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.5 mpg | $1,786 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.5 mpg (34%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Borrego changed over the years
Combined figure across the 3 model years the Borrego was rated in, all of them at 18 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2009 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Kia Borrego — 2 engines across 2009–2011. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,450. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Kia Borrego get?
18 mpg combined on average — 16 in the city and 21.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2009–2011.
How much does a Kia Borrego cost in fuel per year?
About $2,133 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,665 over five years, or 0.178 dollars a mile.
Which Borrego engine is the most economical?
The 3.8L 6-cyl at 18 mpg, against 18 for the 4.6L 8-cyl — a difference of about $0 a year.
Is the Borrego good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Borrego figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Kia Borrego is $3,450 against the $2,133 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 18 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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