The Kia Sportage does 25.9 mpg combined (23.9 city, 28.8 highway), which works out to about $1,483 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 42.4 mpg while 2.7L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $1,014 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Kia Sportage engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Kia Sportage ranges from 42.4 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,014 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 | 41.4 / 43.6 | 2023–2027 | $906 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 35.8 / 35.3 | 2023–2026 | $1,088 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 / 32.5 | 2023–2026 | $1,371 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 22.2 / 29.6 | 2011–2022 | $1,530 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 18.4 / 22.9 | 1995–2014 | $1,882 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 17.3 / 23 | 2005–2010 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Kia Sportage burns a gallon every 25.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 463 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.124 |
| Fuel per year | $1,483 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,415 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$11 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,570 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Kia Sportage gives up 4.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.8 out there against 23.9 in town, a 21% drop worth $274 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 | 23.9 mpg | $1,607 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.8 mpg | $1,333 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.9 mpg (21%) | Typical for its type |
How the Sportage changed over the years
The Sportage peaked in 2027 at 41 mpg (40 city, 42 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1997 at 18 — 23 mpg apart, or $1,196 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 41. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 40 / 42 | 1 | $937 | |
| 2026 | 33.7 / 37.7 | 3 | $1,088 | |
| 2025 | 34.3 / 37 | 3 | $1,088 | |
| 2024 | 34.3 / 37.3 | 3 | $1,088 | |
| 2023 | 34.3 / 37 | 3 | $1,088 | |
| 2022 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2021 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2020 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2019 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2018 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2017 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2016 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2014 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2012 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2011 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2010 | 19 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2009 | 19 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2008 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2007 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2006 | 18 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2005 | 18 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1998 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1997 | 17 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1996 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 45 EPA ratings of the Kia Sportage — 6 engines across 1995–2027. 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 $2,570. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Kia Sportage get?
25.9 mpg combined on average — 23.9 in the city and 28.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1995–2027.
How much does a Kia Sportage cost in fuel per year?
About $1,483 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,415 over five years, or 0.124 dollars a mile.
Which Sportage engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid at 42.4 mpg, against 20 for the 2.7L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,014 a year.
Is the Sportage 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 Sportage 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 Sportage is $2,570 against the $1,483 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 43 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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