2021 Kia Sorento MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Kia Sorento gets up to 26 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 37 mpg as a hybrid, across 5 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Kia Sorento · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

26MPG combined

24 city 29 highway

$2,400 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

37MPG combined

39 city 35 highway

$1,700 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score8/10

1.6L turbo 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual

Best version saves $2,500 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 $1,700 to $2,600 a year. New for 2021: a hybrid version.

More complaints than a typical Sorento year

The 2021 drew 132 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 2021 Sorento's recalls and problems

Every 2021 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
Hybrid
1.6L turbo 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual Best EPA listing: Sorento Hybrid	37 mpg	39 / 35	$1,700
Gas
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Sorento FWD	26 mpg	24 / 29	$2,400
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automated manual EPA listing: Sorento FWD	25 mpg	22 / 29	$2,500
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Sorento AWD	24 mpg	23 / 25	$2,600
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automated manual EPA listing: Sorento AWD	24 mpg	21 / 28	$2,600

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 hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual	$1,622	$135	$8,108
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,308	$192	$11,538
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automated manual	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,500	$208	$12,500
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automated manual	$2,500	$208	$12,500

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

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

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

2021: gas 26 mpg · hybrid 37 mpg

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 2021 Sorento compares

2021 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.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sorento This page Best: hybrid	37 mpg	26 mpg	$1,700
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: hybrid	34 mpg	26 mpg	$1,850
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,600
Ford Explorer Best: hybrid	27 mpg	24 mpg	$2,300
Chevrolet Blazer Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
GMC Acadia Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Kia Telluride Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Subaru Ascent Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Murano Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Hyundai Palisade Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Honda Passport Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Volkswagen Atlas Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Buick Enclave Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950

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

2021 Sorento recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 278 owner complaints for the 2021 Sorento.

Owners most often describe loss of power (61 complaints, 22%), then the check engine light (46). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2021 Sorento recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2021 Kia Sorento's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 2 mpg: the 2.5L 4-cyl gets 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 24 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2021 Sorento hybrid save?

Comparing two-wheel-drive versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,700 a year to fuel against $2,400 for the gas model: $700 a year, or $3,500 over five years.

Does the 2021 Kia Sorento need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Kia Sorento version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Sorento's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 26 mpg, up 1 from 25.

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.