Kia Niro MPG by year — every rating on record
The Kia Niro has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 2017 to 2027. Across those years its best rated version returned 50 mpg (2027) and its thirstiest returned 49 mpg (2017). The EPA record holds 11 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #4 of 24 (87th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2018 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #4 of 23 (86th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2019 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #5 of 23 (82th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2020 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #5 of 20 (79th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2021 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #9 of 22 (62th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2022 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #7 of 21 (70th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2023 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #17 of 29 (43th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2024 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #30 of 77 (62th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2025 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #35 of 82 (58th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2026 | 1 | 49 mpg | 49 mpg | #33 of 71 (54th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2027 | 1 | 50 mpg | 50 mpg | #10 of 26 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Kia Niro placed highest in 2017 at #4 of 24, and lowest in 2025 at #35 of 82. It spent 10 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 46 | 50 | 230.0 | 6.0 | $1,250 | 178 | 8/10 |
| 2026 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 45 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 181 | 8/10 |
| 2025 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 45 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 181 | 8/10 |
| 2024 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 45 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 181 | 8/10 |
| 2023 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 53 | 45 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 181 | 8/10 |
| 2022 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 51 | 46 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 183 | 9/10 |
| 2021 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 51 | 46 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 183 | 9/10 |
| 2020 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 51 | 46 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 183 | 10/10 |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular | SIDI; Hybrid, Hybrid, start-stop | 51 | 46 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 183 | 10/10 |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular | SIDI, Hybrid, start-stop | 51 | 46 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 183 | 10/10 |
| 2017 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) Regular | SIDI, Hybrid, start-stop | 51 | 46 | 49 | 234.7 | 6.1 | $1,250 | 183 | 10/10 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 → 2027 | 49 → 50 mpg | +1 mpg | 230 gal |
What Niro fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2027 Kia Niro burns 230 to 230 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 | $690 | $690 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $805 | $805 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $920 | $920 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2027 model year is $1,250 to $1,250 a year in fuel, or $5,000 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Station Wagons
Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 50 mpg the Kia Niro is 23 mpg better the median, which is worth about $686 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Station Wagons 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.