2012 Kia Soul MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Kia Soul is rated 25 to 28 mpg combined across 6 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Eco.

EPA fuel economy

2012 Kia Soul · 6 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

28MPG combined

26 city 31 highway

$2,400 a year to fuel

1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Eco

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 $2,400 to $2,700 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.

More complaints than a typical Soul year

The 2012 drew 48 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 46 for a typical Soul year.

Years to avoid: 2020; best years: 2019 and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

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

Every 2012 Soul 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 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Eco Best EPA listing: Soul Eco	28 mpg	26 / 31	$2,400
1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Soul	27 mpg	25 / 30	$2,500
1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Soul	27 mpg	25 / 30	$2,500
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Eco EPA listing: Soul Eco	26 mpg	24 / 29	$2,600
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Soul	26 mpg	24 / 29	$2,600
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Soul	25 mpg	23 / 28	$2,700

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
1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Eco	$2,395	$200	$11,973
1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,483	$207	$12,417
1.6L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,483	$207	$12,417
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Eco	$2,579	$215	$12,894
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,579	$215	$12,894
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,682	$223	$13,410

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

Kia Soul MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 26 to 31 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2025); 31 since 2020.

2012: gas 28 mpg

Show as a table

Kia Soul best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2010	28
2011	28
2012	28
2013	28
2014	26
2015	26
2016	27
2017	28
2018	28
2019	28
2020	31
2021	31
2022	31
2023	31
2024	31
2025	31

Every Soul year's ratings in one table

2012 Soul recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 514 owner complaints for the 2012 Soul.

Owners most often describe the check engine light (75 complaints, 15%), then stalling (66). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 Soul recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2012 Kia Soul need premium gas?

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

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

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 28 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.