Kia · Small SUVs · Gasoline
Kia Sportage: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
Rated at 28 MPG combined for 2026, the Kia Sportage is tied for 62nd of 113 small SUVs, in the lower half.
- 28MPG combinedtied 62nd of 113 in class
- $2,400a year in fueltied 60th of 113 in class
- 317g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is tied for 15th of 58 gasoline small SUVs, in the upper half. The median of that narrower group is 26 MPG, against 29 MPG for all small SUVs together.
Among all gasoline models of the year, regardless of size, it is tied for 36th of 180 gasoline models, in the top quarter.
Within the 16 Kia models rated for 2026 it is 14th on combined rating; the median of the make's line-up is 34.5 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the BMW X3 Hybrid at 29 MPG and just behind it is the Chevrolet Equinox at 27 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
The file prices the fuel for its most efficient version at about $2,400 a year, assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon. That is $100 more than the small SUVs median of $2,300, which makes it tied for 60th of 113 small SUVs, in the lower half.
Tailpipe CO2 is 317 g/mile, 19 g/mile above the small SUVs median of 298.
Rated versions
Its city rating is 25 and its highway rating 33: the highway figure is 8 higher. 3 versions are rated for 2026. The most efficient, Sportage FWD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD, gets 28 MPG; the least efficient listed, Sportage X-pro: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD, gets 24 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. With the file's assumptions that gap is worth about $400 a year in fuel.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage FWD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD | 28 | 25 | 33 | $2,400 | 317 |
| Sportage AWD: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD | 26 | 24 | 30 | $2,600 | 339 |
| Sportage X-pro: 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD | 24 | 23 | 26 | $2,800 | 374 |
Year by year
The Kia Sportage is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Between 2019 and 2026 the best combined rating rose by 3 MPG, from 25 to 28. The number of rated versions shrank from 6 to 3. Fuel cost for the best version is $2,400 in the latest data against $2,700 in 2019, although the file applies today's fuel prices to every model year, so that change comes from the rating, not from prices.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 28 | 24 | $2,400 | 317 | 29 |
| 2025 | 3 | 28 | 25 | $2,400 | 317 | 29 |
| 2024 | 3 | 28 | 25 | $2,400 | 315 | 28 |
| 2023 | 2 | 28 | 25 | $2,400 | 322 | 27 |
| 2022 | 4 | 26 | 21 | $2,600 | 350 | 26 |
| 2021 | 4 | 26 | 21 | $2,600 | 349 | 26 |
| 2020 | 4 | 26 | 21 | $2,600 | 351 | 26 |
| 2019 | 6 | 25 | 21 | $2,700 | 353 | 26 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X2 | Gasoline | 28 | $2,950 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 28 | $2,950 | 2026 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid | Hybrid | 28 | $2,400 | 2026 |
| Volvo XC60 Plug-in hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 28 | $2,950 | 2026 |
| GMC Terrain | Gasoline | 27 | $2,500 | 2026 |
Rated almost identically and covered by this page:
- BMW X1 28 MPG, $2,950 a year, 2 versions, last rated 2026
Compare and rank
Rankings: Small SUVs, Gasoline, Kia, Gasoline small SUVs.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.