Kia Cadenza MPG by year — every rating on record
The Kia Cadenza has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 2014 to 2020. Across those years its best rated version returned 23 mpg (2017) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (2014). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #24 of 64 (63th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 2015 | 1 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #35 of 75 (54th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 2016 | 1 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #38 of 72 (48th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 2017 | 1 | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | #35 of 74 (53th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 2018 | 1 | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | #34 of 77 (57th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 2019 | 1 | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | #31 of 80 (62th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
| 2020 | 1 | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | #29 of 78 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Kia Cadenza placed highest in 2014 at #24 of 64, and lowest in 2016 at #38 of 72. It spent 6 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 7 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI | 20 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 385 | 5/10 |
| 2019 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI | 20 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386 | 5/10 |
| 2018 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI | 20 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 383 | 5/10 |
| 2017 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI | 20 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 384 | 5/10 |
| 2016 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 404 | 5/10 |
| 2015 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Regular | SIDI | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 404 | 5/10 |
| 2014 | 3.3L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd Regular | SIDI | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 404 | 5/10 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 → 2017 | 22 → 23 mpg | +1 mpg | 500 gal |
What Cadenza fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2020 Kia Cadenza burns 500 to 500 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,500 | $1,500 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,750 | $1,750 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,000 | $2,000 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2020 model year is $2,700 to $2,700 a year in fuel, or $2,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Large Cars
Across the 305 nameplates EPA classifies as Large Cars, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 23 mpg the Kia Cadenza is 2 mpg better the median, which is worth about $167 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Large Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Kia nameplates
Every Kia model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.