Kia Sephia/Spectra MPG by year — every rating on record
The Kia Sephia/Spectra has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 2 model years, from 2000 to 2001. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (2001) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (2000). The EPA record holds 4 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #25 of 50 (51th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2001 | 2 | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | #23 of 62 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Kia Sephia/Spectra placed highest in 2001 at #23 of 62, and lowest in 2000 at #25 of 50. It spent 2 of its 2 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 19 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2001 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 22 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 2000 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2000 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 → 2001 | 23 → 24 mpg | +1 mpg | 479 gal |
What Sephia/Spectra fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2001 Kia Sephia/Spectra burns 479 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 | $1,438 | $1,500 | $63 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,677 | $1,750 | $73 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,917 | $2,000 | $83 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2001 model year is $2,600 to $2,700 a year in fuel, or $2,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 24 mpg the Kia Sephia/Spectra is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $129 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact 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.