Fuel efficiency: Kia cars with the best MPG
Want to buy an economical Kia but don't know where to start? Here are some of the most fuel-efficient Kia cars you can buy online
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Born out of South Korea, Kia models are some of the best cars you can buy for your family and fuel efficiency, not to mention they all come with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
Some are, of course, better than others like with all companies, and the five Kia models below are the ones to have if fuel economy is at the top of your priority list.
Kia Sportage
 "kia sportage hero")
Fuel economy figures:
Petrol: 40.4-44.1mpg
Diesel: 51.4-54.3mpg
Hybrid: 44.1-50.4mpg
PHEV: 252mpg
The Kia Sportage is a practical and well-built family SUV that’s also very fuel-efficient.
Like many of its German rivals, the Sportage is available with a wide variety of engines including petrol, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
The latter offers up to 43 miles of all-electric driving too, which is plenty for most people’s daily commutes.
Using the full potential of the PHEV is by far the most efficient way for most people to drive, but if you tend to drive longer distances then the diesel will be best suited to you, offering up to 54.3mpg.
In terms of reliability, you shouldn’t have any concerns with the Sportage.
Not only does this South Korean car brand know a thing or two about making some of the most robust cars in the world, but also every car comes from the factory with Kia’s signature seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
Kia Optima
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Fuel economy figures:
Diesel: 53.3-54.3mpg
By offering one engine option, the Kia Optima sticks out like a sore thumb in the brand’s lineup – but this isn’t a bad thing.
The main benefit of a diesel engine is fuel economy, because – thanks to a higher compression ratio than a petrol engine – it can sip through fuel much slower, increasing the MPG rating.
The two most common engine options are a 1.6-litre and a 1.7-litre, offering up to 54.3mpg, which means you’ll get an average of around 600-700 miles on one tank of diesel.
Because it’s simply a straightforward diesel engine with no extra tech on top, maintenance is very easy and cost-effective, and it will happily run for many years to come.
Kia Niro
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Fuel economy figures:
Hybrid: 60.1-64.2mpg
PHEV: 282.5-353.1mpg
If the Sportage is slightly too big for you, there’s always the Kia Niro small SUV, which is still practical and very efficient as a PHEV.
As Kia aims to transition away from the traditional internal combustion engine and towards electric power, the Niro is only available as a self-charging hybrid and as a full plug-in hybrid.
With this comes increased fuel economy, with the former getting up to 64.2mpg and the latter getting a staggering 353.1mpg thanks to its onboard battery pack, which gives it up to 33 miles of electric-only driving.
Speaking of which, there’s also an electric Kia Niro EV model that gives you up to 285 miles of range from a single charge and zero tailpipe emissions.
Kia is also spot on with vehicle aftercare, so if there are any issues or concerns you have, simply visit your local Kia showroom and they’ll be able to assist you.
Kia Soul
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Fuel economy figures:
Petrol: 38mpg
Diesel: 58mpg
Electric: 280 miles
Sitting between the Sportage and Sorento, Kia has the Soul, which is far from soulless.
This small family car makes a great run-around to do the school run, nip to the shops in, and for those family weekend trips away.
The Soul can be had with either a petrol, diesel, or electric motor, all of which have no issues putting in the mileage, giving you up to 58mpg with the diesel and an admirable range of 280 miles with the Kia Soul EV.
Kia’s petrol and diesel engines are always being improved to reduce running costs and make them more reliable, so it’s unlikely any major issues will arise.
As for the electric model, this should be even more reliable because it has fewer moving parts and has been engineered to ensure the setup will last for as long as possible.
Kia Rio
 "Kia Rio")
Fuel economy figures:
Petrol: 41.5-54.3mpg
Diesel: 74.3-80.7mpg
As smaller SUVs and crossovers become more desirable, some people are turning back towards the humble hatchback to stand out, and the Kia Rio is a great way to do it.
Its main rivals are the Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen Polo, which are tough competitors, but we think the Rio still ranks highly.
One of the main reasons is its fuel efficiency, which Kia takes great pride in.
At the time of writing, the Rio is only available with a petrol or diesel engine, but both are reliable and return strong MPG figures.
Since this model’s been around since 2001, there are plenty of parts available and loads of specialists who know it inside out.