The Kia Telluride does 24.1 mpg combined (21.8 city, 27.3 highway), which works out to about $1,593 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 35 mpg while 2.5L 4-cyl does 22 — a difference of $648 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Kia Telluride engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Kia Telluride ranges from 35 down to 22 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $648 a year across 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 34 / 36 | 2027–2027 | $1,097 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 20 / 26 | 2020–2025 | $1,692 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 20 / 26 | 2027–2027 | $1,745 |
What that actually costs
The Kia Telluride burns a gallon every 24.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 498 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.133 |
| Fuel per year | $1,593 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,965 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$337 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,644 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Kia Telluride gives up 5.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.3 out there against 21.8 in town, a 25% drop worth $354 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 | 21.8 mpg | $1,761 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.3 mpg | $1,407 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.5 mpg (25%) | Typical for its type |
How the Telluride changed over the years
The Telluride peaked in 2027 at 28.5 mpg (27 city, 31 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2025 at 22 — 6.5 mpg apart, or $398 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 28.5. 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 | 27 / 31 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2025 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2024 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2023 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2022 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2021 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2020 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 8 EPA ratings of the Kia Telluride — 3 engines across 2020–2027. 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 $2,644. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Kia Telluride get?
24.1 mpg combined on average — 21.8 in the city and 27.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2020–2027.
How much does a Kia Telluride cost in fuel per year?
About $1,593 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,965 over five years, or 0.133 dollars a mile.
Which Telluride engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 35 mpg, against 22 for the 2.5L 4-cyl — a difference of about $648 a year.
Is the Telluride 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 Telluride 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 Telluride is $2,644 against the $1,593 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 35 and 22 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.