2012 Fisker Karma: MPG and fuel economy
The 2012 Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid rated at 20 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 20 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2012 Fisker Karma. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2012 model year is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV at 112 MPG.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2012 Fisker Karma. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
| City MPG | 20 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 21 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,450 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 169 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium Gas or Electricity |
How the 2012 Fisker Karma compares
The 2012 Fisker Karma returns 20 combined MPG. Cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year average 23.6 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 15%.
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2012 model year is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV at 112 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Fisker Karma alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2012 model year (across all classes) returns 21.7 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2012 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 750 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,725 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,450 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,750 |
Compare against other Subcompact Cars for 2012
If you are cross-shopping the 2012 Fisker Karma, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV leads this group at 112 MPG, 92 MPG ahead of the 2012 Fisker Karma.
Specifications
The 2012 Fisker Karma runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (a1), sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Subcompact Cars
- Engine
- 2L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (A1)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium Gas or Electricity
- Annual petroleum use
- 5.6 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2012 Fisker Karma
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2012 Fisker Karma.
-
Is the 2012 Fisker Karma fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2012 Fisker Karma returns 20 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year by about 15%. -
What MPG does the 2012 Fisker Karma get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Fisker Karma at 20 combined MPG, 20 MPG in city driving, and 21 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Fisker Karma per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,450 for the 2012 Fisker Karma. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2012 Fisker Karma require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2012 Fisker Karma as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
How much CO₂ does the 2012 Fisker Karma emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 169 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 2,535 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2012 Fisker Karma?
City driving returns 20 MPG and highway driving returns 21 MPG, a gap of 1 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2012 Fisker Karma?
The 2012 Fisker Karma has a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: PHEV). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2012 Fisker Karma have?
The 2012 Fisker Karma comes with a automatic (a1) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2012 Fisker Karma compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2012 model year is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV at 112 combined MPG. The Fisker Karma returns 20 MPG, a gap of 92 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much petroleum does the 2012 Fisker Karma use per year?
The EPA estimates the 2012 Fisker Karma consumes about 5.6 barrels of petroleum per year, based on the standard 15,000 miles of driving. A barrel is 42 U.S. gallons of crude oil, which is refined into gasoline plus other products.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.