The Kia Sorento does 25.4 mpg combined (23.7 city, 28.1 highway), which works out to about $1,512 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 Hybrid does 36.8 mpg while 3.5L 6-cyl does 18.4 — a difference of $1,044 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Kia Sorento engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Kia Sorento ranges from 36.8 down to 18.4 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,044 a year across 6 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 Hybrid | 38.2 / 35.3 | 2021–2026 | $1,043 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 34.2 / 33.4 | 2022–2026 | $1,143 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 23.5 / 30 | 2021–2026 | $1,477 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 / 28.3 | 2011–2020 | $1,607 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17.6 / 24.3 | 2007–2020 | $1,892 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 16.6 / 21.6 | 2003–2013 | $2,087 |
What that actually costs
The Kia Sorento burns a gallon every 25.4 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 472 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.126 |
| Fuel per year | $1,512 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,560 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$418 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,622 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Kia Sorento gives up 4.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.1 out there against 23.7 in town, a 19% drop worth $253 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 | 23.7 mpg | $1,620 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.1 mpg | $1,367 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.4 mpg (19%) | Typical for its type |
How the Sorento changed over the years
The Sorento peaked in 2024 at 32.3 mpg (32.3 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 15 — 17.3 mpg apart, or $1,371 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 32. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 / 33.7 | 3 | $1,200 | |
| 2025 | 30.7 / 33.7 | 3 | $1,211 | |
| 2024 | 32.3 / 33 | 3 | $1,189 | |
| 2023 | 32.7 / 32.3 | 3 | $1,189 | |
| 2022 | 32.7 / 32.3 | 3 | $1,189 | |
| 2021 | 31.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,219 | |
| 2020 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2019 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2018 | 19.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2017 | 19.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2016 | 19.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2015 | 19 / 26 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2014 | 19 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2013 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2012 | 20.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2011 | 20.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2009 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2006 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2005 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2004 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2003 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 44 EPA ratings of the Kia Sorento — 6 engines across 2003–2026. 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 $2,622. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Kia Sorento get?
25.4 mpg combined on average — 23.7 in the city and 28.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2003–2026.
How much does a Kia Sorento cost in fuel per year?
About $1,512 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,560 over five years, or 0.126 dollars a mile.
Which Sorento engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid at 36.8 mpg, against 18.4 for the 3.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,044 a year.
Is the Sorento good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Sorento 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 Sorento is $2,622 against the $1,512 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 37 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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