2017 Kia Optima Fuel Economy

At 31 MPG combined, the 2017 Kia Optima ranks 1st of 8 large cars EPA rated for 2017 — 6.5 MPG better than the 24.5 MPG median for that group. That places it in the upper third of its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $1,950, $650 less than the $2,600 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $9,750, a $3,250 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Across the 6 model years we hold for the Kia Optima, the figure ranges from 24 MPG (2015) to 31 MPG (2016), so the 2017 car is best read against its own model history rather than in isolation.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 286 grams per mile. Over 15,000 miles that is about 4.3 metric tons a year, a figure EPA derives from the same test cycle as the MPG above rather than measuring separately.