2012 Kia Sorento MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Kia Sorento is rated 20 to 24 mpg combined across 7 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 24 mpg (21 city / 30 hwy).

EPA fuel economy

2012 Kia Sorento · 7 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

24MPG combined

21 city 30 highway

$2,800 a year to fuel

2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 24 mpg (21 city / 30 hwy)

Best version costs $2,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,800 to $3,350 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.

About a typical Sorento year

The 2012 drew 116 owner complaints in its first three years, against 116 for a typical Sorento year.

Years to avoid: 2011; best years: 2018 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Sorento year ranked The 2012 Sorento's recalls and problems

Every 2012 Sorento 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
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 24 mpg (21 city / 28 hwy) EPA listing: Sorento 2WD	24 mpg	21 / 28	$2,800
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 24 mpg (21 city / 30 hwy) Best EPA listing: Sorento 2WD	24 mpg	21 / 30	$2,800
2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · rated 23 mpg EPA listing: Sorento 4WD	23 mpg	21 / 26	$2,900
2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · rated 22 mpg EPA listing: Sorento 4WD	22 mpg	20 / 26	$3,050
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Sorento 2WD	22 mpg	20 / 26	$3,050
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Sorento 2WD	22 mpg	20 / 25	$3,050
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Sorento 4WD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,350

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 24 mpg (21 city / 30 hwy)	$2,794	$233	$13,969
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 24 mpg (21 city / 28 hwy)	$2,794	$233	$13,969
2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · rated 23 mpg	$2,915	$243	$14,576
2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · rated 22 mpg	$3,048	$254	$15,239
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$3,048	$254	$15,239
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,048	$254	$15,239
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$3,353	$279	$16,763

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

Kia Sorento MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 22 to 26 mpg (every year from 2011 to 2026); 26 since 2021. Hybrid: 36 to 37 mpg (2021 to 2026); highest in 2021.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2012: gas 24 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Kia Sorento best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2011	24	–
2012	24	–
2013	24	–
2014	22	–
2015	23	–
2016	24	–
2017	24	–
2018	24	–
2019	25	–
2020	25	–
2021	26	37
2022	26	37
2023	26	37
2024	26	37
2025	26	36
2026	26	37

Every Sorento year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 Sorento compares

2012 midsize 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.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	29 mpg	21 mpg	$2,850
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,400
Kia Sorento This page Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Honda Pilot Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Nissan Murano Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Dodge Durango Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
GMC Acadia Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Buick Enclave Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$4,850

Kia Sorento vs Hyundai Santa FeMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2012 Sorento recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 880 owner complaints for the 2012 Sorento.

Owners most often describe stalling (170 complaints, 19%), then engine failure (168). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 Sorento recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2012 Kia Sorento's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, 4WD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 2 mpg: the 2.4L 4-cyl gets 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 22 with 4WD.

Does the 2012 Kia Sorento need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2012 Kia Sorento version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2012 Sorento's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 24 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 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.