2018 Hyundai Kona MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2018 Hyundai Kona is rated 27 to 30 mpg combined across 4 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual.

EPA fuel economy

2018 Hyundai Kona · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

30MPG combined

28 city 32 highway

$2,100 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual

Best version saves $500 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,100 to $2,300 a year.

One of the best Kona years by owner complaints

The 2018 drew 16 owner complaints in its first three years, against 55 for a typical Kona year. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.

No Kona year stands out enough to avoid; best year: 2018. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Kona year ranked The 2018 Kona's recalls and problems

Every 2018 Kona version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual Best EPA listing: Kona FWD	30 mpg	28 / 32	$2,100
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Kona FWD	30 mpg	27 / 33	$2,100
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 7-speed automated manual EPA listing: Kona AWD	27 mpg	26 / 29	$2,300
2.0L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Kona AWD	27 mpg	25 / 30	$2,300

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual	$2,000	$167	$10,000
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,000	$167	$10,000
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 7-speed automated manual	$2,222	$185	$11,111
2.0L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,222	$185	$11,111

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Hyundai Kona MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 30 to 32 mpg (every year from 2018 to 2026); highest in 2022.

2018: gas 30 mpg

Show as a table

Hyundai Kona best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2018	30
2019	30
2020	30
2021	30
2022	32
2023	32
2024	31
2025	31
2026	31

Every Kona year's ratings in one table

How the 2018 Kona compares

2018 subcompact SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2018 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Nissan Kicks Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Honda HR-V Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,000
Hyundai Kona This page Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,100
Buick Encore Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,100
Subaru Crosstrek Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Chevrolet Trax Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Kia Soul Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200

Kia Seltos vs Hyundai KonaMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2018 Kona recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 75 owner complaints for the 2018 Kona.

Owners most often describe stalling (18 complaints, 24%), then engine failure (17).

See the 2018 Kona recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2018 Hyundai Kona's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 3 mpg: the 1.6L turbo 4-cyl gets 30 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 27 with AWD.

Does the 2018 Hyundai Kona need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2018 Hyundai Kona version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.