2018 Kia Optima MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2018 Kia Optima gets up to 31 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 42 mpg as a hybrid, across 7 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2018 Kia Optima · 7 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

31MPG combined

28 city 37 highway

$2,000 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

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

Best hybrid version

42MPG combined

39 city 46 highway

$1,500 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score9/10

2.0L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual

Best version saves $3,500 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 $1,500 to $2,500 a year. The plug-in hybrid adds 29 miles of electric range and 103 MPGe on electricity. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2017.

About a typical Optima year

The 2018 drew 46 owner complaints in its first three years, against 53 for a typical Optima year (44 for a typical year since 2016).

Years to avoid: 2012 and 2013. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

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

Every 2018 Optima 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; for plug-in hybrids it assumes typical charging.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
2.0L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual Best EPA listing: Optima Hybrid	42 mpg	39 / 46	$1,500
Gas
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual EPA listing: Optima	31 mpg	28 / 37	$2,000
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · FE EPA listing: Optima FE	29 mpg	25 / 36	$2,150
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Optima	28 mpg	24 / 34	$2,200
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · S EPA listing: Optima S	26 mpg	23 / 32	$2,400
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Optima	25 mpg	22 / 31	$2,500
Plug-in hybrid
2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual EPA listing: Optima Plug-in Hybrid · 103 MPGe on electricity · 29 mi electric range · MPG shown is running on gas	40 mpg	38 / 43	$1,100 with charging (EPA); gas only $1,550

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
2.0L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual	$1,429	$119	$7,143
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual	$1,935	$161	$9,677
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · FE	$2,069	$172	$10,345
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,143	$179	$10,714
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · S	$2,308	$192	$11,538
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual (on gas)	$1,500	$125	$7,500

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50. Plug-in hybrids are calculated running on gas only.

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Kia Optima MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 25 to 31 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2020); 31 since 2016. Hybrid: 36 to 42 mpg (2011 to 2020); highest in 2017.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2018: gas 31 mpg · hybrid 42 mpg

Show as a table

Kia Optima best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	25	–
2011	27	36
2012	27	36
2013	27	37
2014	26	37
2015	26	37
2016	31	37
2017	31	42
2018	31	42
2019	31	41
2020	31	42

Every Optima year's ratings in one table

How the 2018 Optima compares

2018 midsize sedans 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
Toyota Camry Best: hybrid	52 mpg	34 mpg	$1,200
Honda Accord Best: hybrid	47 mpg	33 mpg	$1,300
Chevrolet Malibu Best: hybrid	46 mpg	30 mpg	$1,350
Hyundai Sonata Best: hybrid	42 mpg	31 mpg	$1,500
Kia Optima This page Best: hybrid	42 mpg	31 mpg	$1,500
Nissan Altima Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,000

2018 Optima recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 244 owner complaints for the 2018 Optima.

Owners most often describe excessive oil consumption (51 complaints, 21%), then stalling (32). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars for the versions it has rated.

See the 2018 Optima recalls and problems

Questions

How much fuel does the 2018 Optima hybrid save?

Comparing two-wheel-drive versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,500 a year to fuel against $2,000 for the gas model: $500 a year, or $2,500 over five years.

Does the 2018 Kia Optima need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2018 Kia Optima version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2018 Optima's MPG compare with the 2017?

For 2018, the best gas version is rated 31 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 42 mpg, the same as the year before.

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.