Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Optima MPG

Chart is based on 659 fuel economy reports for the Hyundai Elantra and 152 fuel economy reports for the Kia Optima.

Hyundai Elantra MPG

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2021	4dr Sedan 147-horsepower 2.0L I4 8-speed shiftable CVT FWD	flat	light	none	0	0	20	80	65	46.5
2020	4dr Sedan 147-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD	flat	light	light	2	0	98	0	0	33.0
2017	4dr Sedan 147-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	none	0	5	53	42	120	38.7
2016	4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	hvy	0	9	6	86	75	30.7
2014	4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed manual FWD	flat	v.lt	none	0	25	23	52	110	36.7
2013	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	light	5	24	24	46	72	31.3
2012	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	lead	light	2	10	26	62	73	29.7
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2012	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed manual FWD	hills	light	hvy	0	0	15	85	85	38.3
2011	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	none	4	8	26	32	65	31.2
2010	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	5	10	10	75	60	34.5
2010	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	light	none	2	5	34	59	73	30.5
2009	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	hills	med	none	1	25	13	61	64	33.5
2009	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	med	light	8	31	11	50	76	31.4
2008	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	light	4	13	31	52	71	30.7
2008	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	light	light	5	20	18	58	69	29.4
2007	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	light	14	29	13	44	72	30.1
2007	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	med	light	3	30	28	39	69	28.4
2006	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	light	16	43	15	26	83	25.3
2006	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	hills	light	none	10	18	55	17	75	24.9
2006	4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	v.lt	light	6	36	21	36	86	24.7
2005	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	5	8	22	65	79	30.7
2005	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	med	light	6	20	30	44	66	28.5
2005	4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	3	3	7	86	80	30.6
2005	4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	light	light	12	30	18	40	66	29.3
2004	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	6	40	28	25	71	28.3
2004	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	light	none	2	15	13	71	62	32.8
2004	4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	0	13	38	50	75	31.7
2004	4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	hills	med	hvy	7	20	45	28	77	26.9
2003	4dr Sedan 135-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	light	2	8	32	58	67	30.2
2003	4dr Sedan 135-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	med	light	5	42	9	44	79	24.3
2003	4dr Hatch turbocharged 111hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	light	1	4	10	85	60	36.2
2003	4dr Hatch 135-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	6	11	26	57	63	30.3
2002	4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	light	13	13	17	57	67	27.9
2002	4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	hills	med	none	2	16	24	57	98	25.0
2002	4dr Hatch 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	light	7	15	16	63	83	31.6
2002	4dr Hatch 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	light	none	13	25	30	33	60	26.2
2001	4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	light	20	40	10	30	70	22.7
2001	4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	flat	light	light	30	40	20	10	110	23.5
2001	4dr Hatch 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	v.lt	light	31	27	23	19	100	28.0

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This page shows only averages. See all the Hyundai Elantra fuel economy data.

Kia Optima MPG

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2019	4dr Sedan turbocharged 245hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	med	hvy	0	10	50	40	70	26.7
2017	4dr Sedan 154-horsepower 2.0L I4 Hybrid 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	light	30	30	20	20	70	52.6
2016	4dr Sedan turbocharged 178hp 1.6L I4 7-speed automated manual FWD	hills	light	light	6	0	14	80	67	39.0
2013	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	light	0	24	21	56	69	25.5
2013	4dr Sedan 200-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	none	0	32	14	54	83	27.1
2013	4dr Sedan 159-horsepower 2.4L I4 Hybrid 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	v.lt	none	2	13	15	71	102	32.5
2012	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	hills	light	light	4	18	39	39	72	25.6
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2012	4dr Sedan 200-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	med	none	0	4	20	76	69	32.3
2011	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	hills	med	light	0	5	28	68	70	28.0
2011	4dr Sedan 200-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	hills	light	none	4	7	21	67	66	28.7
2011	4dr Sedan 200-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed manual FWD	flat	med	light	0	5	20	75	75	30.0
2010	4dr Sedan 194-horsepower 2.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	med	light	0	10	70	20	75	20.0
2010	4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	none	0	0	20	80	63	36.2
2009	4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	light	5	12	16	67	65	29.1
2008	4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	light	20	60	10	10	60	26.3
2008	4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	lead	light	30	15	30	25	75	26.2
2007	4dr Sedan 185-horsepower 2.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	med	none	7	13	3	78	108	29.5
2007	4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	hills	med	none	1	36	48	15	63	23.2
2006.5	4dr Sedan 185-horsepower 2.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	hvy	6	4	33	58	66	24.6
2006.5	4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	flat	light	light	18	16	9	56	63	28.9
2006.5	4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	hvy	0	0	10	90	60	30.0
2005	4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.7L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	hills	lead	light	5	95	0	0	0	12.1
2004	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	hvy	0	0	5	95	70	30.0

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This page shows only averages. See all the Kia Optima fuel economy data.

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TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Comment
2021	With EPA ratings of 31 mpg city and 41 mpg highway, the Hyundai Elantra Limited with a 2.0-liter engine and CVT is among the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid compact sedans. Lesser trim levels score even better: 33 city, 43 highway. Though the Kia Forte has the same powertrain, it scores a couple mpg lower. For even better fuel economy, the Elantra is offered as a hybrid with EPA ratings as high as 53 mpg city, 56 mpg highway, and 54 mpg combined. The Honda Insight and Toyota Corolla Hybrid manage only 52 mpg combined. One trim of the Prius (a hatchback) manages 56, but the others check in at 52. In my winter suburban driving I observed trip computer averages between 30 mpg and 40 mpg. see full Hyundai Elantra review

Hyundai Elantra Real Gas Mileage: Cons
Year	Comment
	Hyundai has been among those manucturers offering turbocharged engines in "eco" variants of its cars. But as tuned for the Elantra Sport, the corporate 1.6T engine doesn't score well in the EPA's tests: 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. You'll find similar numbers on the window sticker of a Nissan sedan--if that Nissan sedan happens to be the 300-horsepower Maxima. The Sentra SR Turbo scores considerably better, especially in city driving: 26/32. I've unfairly implied the 1.6T engine is to blame. Hitch this engine to the seven-speed DCT instead of the six-speed manual, and it rates much better, about the same as a Sentra SR Turbo with its optional CVT, 26/33 vs. 27/33. Does the Elantra Sport manual's real-world fuel economy differ as much as the EPA ratings suggest? Or does it suffer from test anxiety? I suspect the latter. In my suburban driving with economy-minded acceleration and braking the trip computer reported an average of 37 mpg (with an occasional 40). see full Hyundai Elantra review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	After the first 10K miles, the AVERAGE MPG has risen from the low 20's to the high 20's on my average commute, but is nowhere near the advertised efficiencies. NOT a happy camper with this! see full Hyundai Elantra review
2013	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I have over 1,100 miles on the car as of today. My first long trip of 450 miles yielded an average of 38.6 mpg. I am consistently seeing over 33 mpg in city driving. This is as good as advertised. see full Hyundai Elantra review
2012	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Impressed with fuel mileage, and I'm getting better than touted. Couldn't do that with the last car, unless I could find pure gas (no ethanol). With the Elantra I'm getting 40 mpg mixed driving with ethanol. see full Hyundai Elantra review
2011	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Over 35 mpg, even on backroads see full Hyundai Elantra review
2011	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Consistant 35 MPG with mixed HWY and City see full Hyundai Elantra review
2010	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	I get about 30 mpg mixed driving which I consider pretty good see full Hyundai Elantra review
2010	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	We average about 31 mpg. see full Hyundai Elantra review
2009	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	not bad see full Hyundai Elantra review
2009	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	I keep fueling record and I get 36 miles per gallons so far ever since i purchased this vehicle. see full Hyundai Elantra review
2008	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	City/Highway mileage exceeds EPA ratings if driven smoothly (5 manual) see full Hyundai Elantra review

Hyundai Elantra Real Gas Mileage: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Just don't seem to be able to hit any of the gas mileage reported amounts. 10 to 15 litres per 100 KM seems to be the norm with combined city and highway driving. Dealer keeps telling me I need to "break" the vehicle in to get good gas mileage. Range odometer doesn't reset to 591 kms on fuel ups either. Takes several fill ups before it seems to work correctly for a while. Dealer can't find any issues with it. see full Hyundai Elantra review
2012	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	This is one of the most disappointing aspects of the 2012. The Active Eco is no longer anautomatic feature, and I've found I don't get the great gas mileage that I used to. I would consistently get 40mpg highway, and about 30 mpg in the city. Now I get 32 highway, 28 city. My parents live an hour and a half away, and I have other family living further away. I find it frustrating that I don't get the great mileage I did previously, especially since gas prices just keep going up. see full Hyundai Elantra review
2009	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	Engine is 132HP PZEV, not 138 SULEV. Diff in power seems smal but is significant for this car. Mileage worse AND power is less. Unfortunately, states dictate what you can get; CA emissions rule for PA = stupid cop-out/liberal cave-in to greenie-weenies see full Hyundai Elantra review
2005	4dr Sedan 138-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	Not nearly on par with the competition. see full Hyundai Elantra review

TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Kia Optima

Kia Optima Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Comment
2013	Many auto makers are substituting turbocharged fours for V6s because of their theoretically superior fuel economy. The Kia Optima SXL earns EPA ratings of 22 mpg city, 34 highway. The similarly turbo-foured Ford Fusion comes close, 22/33. The most fuel efficient V6, in the new Honda Accord, manages 21/34 without paddle shifters, but 21/32 with them. Trip computer numbers suggest a one-to-two mpg advantage for the Kia in real-world suburban driving--perhaps too close to call since these devices aren't terribly precise. Figure just under 20 with a heavy foot, mid-20s if you resist the temptation, and just over 30 with a very light foot and luck with the lights. All of these figures are with the engine warmed up. In cold weather, fuel economy is in the mid-teens for the first mile or two. An eco mode makes little noticeable difference in either how the car drives or its fuel economy. These numbers don't seem particularly good? Recall that the Kia Optima SXL is a very quick car. You won't find a 274-horsepower sedan that does better without the aid of a battery pack. see full Kia Optima review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Kia Optima

Kia Optima Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I find fuel economy, in mixed driving, to be on par with a V6 of comparable power. I usually get about 24 MPG in combined driving. However, on a recent road trip, I had 32 MPG on one tank. It's perhaps slightly better than the Acura TL I had, but one big bonus: the Acura required premium unleaded. On the Kia Optima, however, the manufacturer only calls for regular unleaded. Over time, that can mean a significant savings. see full Kia Optima review
2012	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	This is my biggest (and only real) complaint with the Optima. It advertises fuel economy of 22 city, 34 highway. I drive a lot (100 mile round trip daily, with more than half of it being highway miles). Admittedly, I have a heavy foot, but I regularly get about 24-25 mpg combined, with the car in ECO mode. The best tank of gas I ever got was a little over 28 mpg. (I calculate it manually, don't rely on the on-board MPG estimates, as they are always 3-5 MPG more generous than reality.) see full Kia Optima review
2011	4dr Sedan 200-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	High 30s on the highway and 29-30 overall with a lot of power. Active eco. setting for better economy. see full Kia Optima review
2011	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	33 mpg on 200 mile trips at about 65 mph avg. see full Kia Optima review
2008	4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD	Decent fuel mileage at this point for a mid-size sedan. see full Kia Optima review
2007	4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	25-30 city/hwy see full Kia Optima review
2007	4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	It may be a bit borderline in 100% city driving (19-20 mpg), but it gets 33mpg+ on the open highway, with only a 1-2 mpg penalty for using A/C. see full Kia Optima review
2007	4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	got 42 mgh yesteerday on a 120 minute drive 25%/75% in town/highway driving. Like paying $2.25 per gallon, see full Kia Optima review
2005	4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.7L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	AS above see full Kia Optima review

Kia Optima Real Gas Mileage: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I'd recommend this car in a heartbeat. I honestly like this styling even more than the updates they've made since 2012. My biggest cons are the fuel economy and the lack of a manual transmission on any models other than the base model. see full Kia Optima review