The Kia Rio does 30.6 mpg combined (27.1 city, 35.3 highway), which works out to about $1,255 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl does 31 mpg while 1.5L 4-cyl does 26 — a difference of $238 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Kia Rio engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Kia Rio ranges from 31 down to 26 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $238 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 27.5 / 35.9 | 2003–2023 | $1,239 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 23.5 / 29 | 2001–2002 | $1,477 |
What that actually costs
The Kia Rio burns a gallon every 30.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 392 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.105 |
| Fuel per year | $1,255 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,275 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$239 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,067 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Kia Rio gives up 8.2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 35.3 out there against 27.1 in town, a 30% drop worth $329 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 | 27.1 mpg | $1,417 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 35.3 mpg | $1,088 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.2 mpg (30%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Rio changed over the years
The Rio peaked in 2023 at 36 mpg (32 city, 41 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 25 — 11 mpg apart, or $469 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2023 car does 36. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 32 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2022 | 33 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2021 | 33 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2020 | 33 / 41 | 1 | $1,067 | |
| 2019 | 28 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2018 | 28 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2017 | 27 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2016 | 27 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2015 | 27 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2014 | 27 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2013 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2012 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2011 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2010 | 28 / 34 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2009 | 26 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2008 | 25 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2007 | 25 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2006 | 25 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2005 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2004 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2003 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2002 | 23 / 29 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2001 | 24 / 29 | 1 | $1,477 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 23 EPA ratings of the Kia Rio — 2 engines across 2001–2023. 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 $2,067. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Kia Rio get?
30.6 mpg combined on average — 27.1 in the city and 35.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2023.
How much does a Kia Rio cost in fuel per year?
About $1,255 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,275 over five years, or 0.105 dollars a mile.
Which Rio engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 31 mpg, against 26 for the 1.5L 4-cyl — a difference of about $238 a year.
Is the Rio good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Rio 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 Rio is $2,067 against the $1,255 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 36 and 25 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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