2021 Kia Sportage MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Kia Sportage is rated 21 to 26 mpg combined across 4 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Kia Sportage · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

26MPG combined

23 city 30 highway

$2,500 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $1,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,500 to $3,100 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

Every 2021 Sportage 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 Best EPA listing: Sportage FWD	26 mpg	23 / 30	$2,500
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Sportage FWD	23 mpg	20 / 28	$2,800
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Sportage AWD	23 mpg	21 / 25	$2,800
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Sportage AWD	21 mpg	19 / 24	$3,100

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 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	$2,492	$208	$12,462
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,817	$235	$14,087
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,817	$235	$14,087
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,086	$257	$15,429

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

Kia Sportage MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 23 to 28 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); 28 since 2023. Hybrid: 42 to 43 mpg (2023 to 2026); highest in 2023.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2021: gas 26 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Kia Sportage best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	23	–
2017	26	–
2018	26	–
2019	25	–
2020	26	–
2021	26	–
2022	26	–
2023	28	43
2024	28	43
2025	28	43
2026	28	42

How the 2021 Sportage compares

2021 compact 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
Ford Escape Best: hybrid	41 mpg	30 mpg	$1,600
Toyota RAV4 Best: hybrid	40 mpg	30 mpg	$1,600
Honda CR-V Best: hybrid	38 mpg	30 mpg	$1,700
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,950
Subaru Outback Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,250
Subaru Forester Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,250
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Mazda CX-5 Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Kia Sportage This page Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,500
Jeep Cherokee Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,500
Ford Bronco Sport Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,500
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,600
Jeep Compass Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,600
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,600

Kia Sportage vs Hyundai TucsonMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2021 Sportage recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 51 owner complaints for the 2021 Sportage.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

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

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 2 to 3 mpg: the 2.4L 4-cyl gets 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 23 with AWD.

Does the 2021 Kia Sportage need premium gas?

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

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

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 26 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 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.