2026 Kia Sorento MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2026 Kia Sorento gets up to 26 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 37 mpg as a hybrid, across 7 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2026 Kia Sorento · 7 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

26MPG combined

23 city 31 highway

$2,400 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

37MPG combined

37 city 36 highway

$1,700 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

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 $2,700 a year. The plug-in hybrid adds 30 miles of electric range and 74 MPGe on electricity. Compared with 2025, the best hybrid version is up 1 mpg.

Too new to rank against other Sorento years

The 2026 Sorento has not had three full years of owner complaints yet.

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

Every Sorento year ranked The 2026 Sorento's recalls and problems

Every 2026 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; for plug-in hybrids it assumes typical charging.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
1.6L turbo 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual Best EPA listing: Sorento Hybrid FWD	37 mpg	37 / 36	$1,700
1.6L turbo 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · 6-speed automated manual EPA listing: Sorento Hybrid AWD	34 mpg	32 / 35	$1,850
Gas
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Sorento FWD	26 mpg	23 / 31	$2,400
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Sorento AWD	25 mpg	23 / 28	$2,500
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automated manual EPA listing: Sorento AWD	23 mpg	20 / 27	$2,700
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automated manual EPA listing: Sorento FWD	23 mpg	20 / 29	$2,700
Plug-in hybrid
1.6L turbo 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · AWD · 6-speed automated manual EPA listing: Sorento Plug-in Hybrid · 74 MPGe on electricity · 30 mi electric range · MPG shown is running on gas	33 mpg	33 / 34	$1,350 with charging (EPA); gas only $1,900

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
1.6L turbo 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · 6-speed automated manual	$1,765	$147	$8,824
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,308	$192	$11,538
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automated manual	$2,609	$217	$13,043
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automated manual	$2,609	$217	$13,043
1.6L turbo 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · AWD · 6-speed automated manual (on gas)	$1,818	$152	$9,091

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 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

2026: 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 2026 Sorento compares

2026 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.

2026 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sorento This page Best: hybrid	37 mpg	26 mpg	$1,700
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	36 mpg	25 mpg	$2,150
Toyota Grand Highlander Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	35 mpg	24 mpg	$1,800
Hyundai Palisade Best: hybrid	34 mpg	21 mpg	$1,850
Chevrolet Blazer Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Mazda CX-90 Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Ford Explorer Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Murano Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Volkswagen Atlas Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Subaru Ascent Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
GMC Acadia Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Buick Enclave Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Honda Passport Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,100

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

2026 Sorento recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints for the 2026 Sorento.

NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars for the versions it has rated.

See the 2026 Sorento recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2026 Kia Sorento's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 3 mpg combined: the 1.6L turbo 4-cyl hybrid gets 37 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 34 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2026 Sorento hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,850 a year to fuel against $2,500 for the gas model: $650 a year, or $3,250 over five years.

Does the 2026 Kia Sorento need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2026 Kia Sorento version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2026 Sorento's MPG compare with the 2025?

For 2026, the best gas version is rated 26 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 37 mpg, up 1 from 36.

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.