2020 Kia Optima MPG and Fuel Cost
The 2020 Kia Optima gets up to 31 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 42 mpg as a hybrid, across 6 EPA-tested versions.
EPA fuel economy
2020 Kia Optima · 6 EPA-tested versionsBest gas version
31MPG combined
27 city 37 highway
$2,100 a year to fuel
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual
Best hybrid version
42MPG combined
40 city 45 highway
$1,550 a year to fuel
2.0L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual
Best version saves $3,750 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).
At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,550 to $2,700 a year. The plug-in hybrid adds 28 miles of electric range and 101 MPGe on electricity. Compared with 2019, the best hybrid version is up 1 mpg.
Every 2020 Optima 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 | |||
2.0L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual Best
EPA listing: Optima Hybrid |
42 mpg | 40 / 45 | $1,550 |
| Gas | |||
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual
EPA listing: Optima |
31 mpg | 27 / 37 | $2,100 |
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · FE
EPA listing: Optima FE |
29 mpg | 25 / 35 | $2,250 |
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic
EPA listing: Optima |
27 mpg | 24 / 32 | $2,400 |
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic
EPA listing: Optima |
24 mpg | 21 / 30 | $2,700 |
| Plug-in hybrid | |||
2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual
EPA listing: Optima Plug-in Hybrid · 101 MPGe on electricity · 28 mi electric range · MPG shown is running on gas |
41 mpg | 39 / 44 | $1,100 with charging (EPA); gas only $1,600 |
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 | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
2.0L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual | $1,543 | $7,714 |
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual | $2,090 | $10,452 |
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · FE | $2,234 | $11,172 |
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic | $2,400 | $12,000 |
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic | $2,700 | $13,500 |
2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual (on gas) | $1,580 | $7,902 |
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.
Kia Optima MPG by model year
The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 31 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2020). Hybrid: 37 to 42 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2020); highest in 2017.
- Best gas version
- Best hybrid version
2020: gas 31 mpg · hybrid 42 mpgTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid version |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 31 | 37 |
| 2017 | 31 | 42 |
| 2018 | 31 | 42 |
| 2019 | 31 | 41 |
| 2020 | 31 | 42 |
How the 2020 Optima compares
2020 midsize sedans 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.
| 2020 model | Best combined | Best gas | Fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
Best: hybrid |
52 mpg | 34 mpg | $1,250 |
Best: hybrid |
52 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,250 |
Best: hybrid |
48 mpg | 33 mpg | $1,350 |
Kia Optima This page Best: hybrid |
42 mpg | 31 mpg | $1,550 |
Best: gas |
32 mpg | 32 mpg | $2,050 |
Best: gas |
32 mpg | 32 mpg | $2,050 |
2020 Optima recalls and complaints
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 148 owner complaints for the 2020 Optima.What they cover, and crash test ratingsQuestions
How much fuel does the 2020 Optima hybrid save?
Comparing two-wheel-drive versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.32 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,550 a year to fuel against $2,100 for the gas model: $550 a year, or $2,750 over five years.
Does the 2020 Kia Optima need premium gas?
No. EPA lists every 2020 Kia Optima version on regular gasoline.
How does the 2020 Optima's MPG compare with the 2019?
For 2020, the best gas version is rated 31 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 42 mpg, up 1 from 41.
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.