MENU
1 0 3 4 3 4

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

Flagged Gas Tank

 characters remaining

Kia Optima Fuel Economy Data

4dr Sedan 200-hp 2.4L I4 6-sp shiftable automatic FWD

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
hills v.lt none 0 0 5 95 65 36.194
hills v.lt hvy 0 0 2 98 65 40.000
flat v.lt none 0 0 2 98 65 39.300
flat lead none 0 30 30 40 70 26.200
flat lead none 0 0 50 50 70 30.400
flat lead none 0 0 50 50 70 25.700
Looking for a warranty? Get a quote.
flat med light 0 0 0 100 75 28.500

Return to top

TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the 2012 Kia Optima

2012 Kia Optima Real Gas Mileage: Pros
YearComment
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 2012 Kia Optima

2012 Kia Optima Real Gas Mileage: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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 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
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
2012 Kia Optima Real Gas Mileage: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
 

2012 Kia Optima Gas Mileage (MPG)

Unlike other fuel economy surveys, TrueDelta's Real-World Gas Mileage Survey includes questions about how and where a car was driven. So you can get an idea of the Kia Optima's real-world MPG based on how and where you drive a car.