Kia Optima Annual Fuel Cost
Running a 2020 Kia Optima costs about $1,450 per year in fuel, based on 15,000 miles of driving at average U.S. fuel prices.
Latest model year (2020):
The Kia Optima costs an estimated $1,450/year in fuel (213 g CO₂/mi).
Kia Optima Fuel Cost — All Years
| Year | Trim | Engine | Fuel | MPG Comb. | Annual Cost | CO₂ (g/mi) | GHG Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020Config 1 of 6 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 41 | $1,500 | 97 | 10 |
| 2020Config 2 of 6 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 42 | $1,450 | 213 | 9 |
| 2020Config 3 of 6 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L | 4 1.6L | Regular Gasoline | 31 | $2,000 | 292 | 7 |
| 2020Config 4 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 24 | $2,550 | 371 | 5 |
| 2020Config 5 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 311 | 6 |
| 2020Config 6 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 27 | $2,300 | 330 | 6 |
| 2019Config 1 of 6 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 41 | $1,500 | 215 | 9 |
| 2019Config 2 of 6 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 40 | $1,550 | 97 | 10 |
| 2019Config 3 of 6 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L | 4 1.6L | Regular Gasoline | 31 | $2,000 | 292 | 7 |
| 2019Config 4 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 24 | $2,550 | 371 | 5 |
| 2019Config 5 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 325 | 6 |
| 2019Config 6 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 27 | $2,300 | 327 | 6 |
| 2018Config 1 of 7 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 40 | $1,550 | 97 | 10 |
| 2018Config 2 of 7 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 42 | $1,450 | 212 | 9 |
| 2018Config 3 of 7 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L | 4 1.6L | Regular Gasoline | 31 | $2,000 | 286 | 7 |
| 2018Config 4 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 25 | $2,450 | 360 | 5 |
| 2018Config 5 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2018Config 6 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 340 | 5 |
| 2018Config 7 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 321 | 6 |
| 2017Config 1 of 6 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 42 | $1,450 | 212 | 9 |
| 2017Config 2 of 6 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 40 | $1,550 | 97 | 10 |
| 2017Config 3 of 6 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L | 4 1.6L | Regular Gasoline | 31 | $2,000 | 286 | 7 |
| 2017Config 4 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 25 | $2,450 | 360 | 5 |
| 2017Config 5 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 7 |
| 2017Config 6 of 6 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 321 | 6 |
| 2016Config 1 of 7 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 37 | $1,650 | 242 | 9 |
| 2016Config 2 of 7 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 36 | $1,700 | 247 | 8 |
| 2016Config 3 of 7 | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L | 4 1.6L | Regular Gasoline | 31 | $2,000 | 286 | 8 |
| 2016Config 4 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 25 | $2,450 | 360 | 6 |
| 2016Config 5 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 25 | $2,450 | 355 | 6 |
| 2016Config 6 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 320 | 7 |
| 2016Config 7 of 7 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 308 | 7 |
| 2015Config 1 of 4 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 37 | $1,650 | 242 | 9 |
| 2015Config 2 of 4 | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 36 | $1,700 | 247 | 9 |
| 2015Config 3 of 4 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Regular Gasoline | 24 | $2,550 | 372 | 6 |
| 2015Config 4 of 4 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 4 2.4L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 334 | 7 |
Data sourced from fueleconomy.gov (U.S. Department of Energy). MPG figures are EPA-tested. Fuel costs are estimates based on average fuel prices and 15,000 miles/year.
Kia Optima data analysis
How Kia Optima estimated annual fuel cost varies
Across 36 configurations recorded for the 2015 through 2020 Kia Optima, estimated annual fuel cost runs from $1,450 to $2,550. The strongest figure belongs to the 2020 Kia Optima (Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L) at $1,450, and the weakest to the 2015 car (Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L) at $2,550 — a spread of 43%. A gap that wide means the model year and configuration you buy matter more than the nameplate does: quoting a single number for the Kia Optima would be misleading.
What changed for 2020
Average estimated annual fuel cost for the 2020 Kia Optima is $1,983, against $2,000 for the 2019 car — it fell by $17. That is a real improvement, and it is the kind of change worth paying the newer-year premium for if this figure drives your decision.
How to read this Kia Optima data
This page lists every 2015 through 2020 Kia Optima record we hold for this measurement — 36 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.
Configurations behind these Kia Optima numbers
The 2015 through 2020 Kia Optima entries here cover the variants Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L and Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L. 2018 is the busiest model year in the record with 7 separate measured configurations, which is why a single quoted estimated annual fuel cost figure for that year is rarely the one that matches the car in front of you. Match the row to the exact drivetrain, body style and engine on the window sticker or VIN before relying on the number, and use the comparison links below to see how those same configurations line up against rival models.
Where these Kia Optima figures come from
Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Kia Optima record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Optima Fuel Cost
How much does it cost to fuel the Kia Optima?
The estimated annual fuel cost for the Kia Optima is $1,450 per year, based on 15,000 miles of driving and average fuel prices. Costs vary by trim and engine.
How much CO₂ does the Kia Optima produce?
The Kia Optima produces approximately 213 grams of CO₂ per mile. Lower numbers mean fewer emissions. See the table for per-trim details.
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