2016 Kia Optima
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2016 Kia Optima is sold in the U.S. with gasoline and hybrid power. The EPA lists 7 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 25 to 37 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,750 to $2,600 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Large Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline, Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 25-37 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 37 / 25 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,750-$2,600 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 242-360 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 6-9 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2016 Optima costs about $1,750 to $2,600 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,200. Over five years that is about $11,000 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Optima configuration saves about $2,750 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of large cars in this dataset is about 29 MPG. The Optima sits roughly 2 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima Hybrid | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 37 MPG | $1,750 |
| Optima Hybrid EX | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 36 MPG | $1,800 |
| Optima | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 31 MPG | $2,100 |
| Optima FE | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 29 MPG | $2,250 |
| Optima | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| Optima | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 25 MPG | $2,600 |
| Optima FE | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 25 MPG | $2,600 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2016 Optima records tailpipe CO₂ of 242-360 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 6-9 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as large cars.
Compare this car
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.