2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 26 combined MPG, with 25 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD. 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
- Returns 46% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year (48.5 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model Y Standard AWD at 127 MPG.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD. 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 | 26 MPG |
| City MPG | 25 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 28 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,300 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 340 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD compares
The 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD returns 26 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year average 48.5 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 46%.
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model Y Standard AWD at 127 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2026 model year (across all classes) returns 45.5 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 2026 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 regular gasoline, which is $3.99/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 576.9 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,150 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,300 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,833 |
Compare against other Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2026
If you are cross-shopping the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD 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 Tesla Model Y Standard AWD leads this group at 127 MPG, 101 MPG ahead of the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD.
Specifications
The 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD runs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s8), sending power through all-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
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S8)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.4 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD.
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Is the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD returns 26 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year by about 46%. -
What MPG does the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD get?
The EPA rates the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD at 26 combined MPG, 25 MPG in city driving, and 28 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 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,300 for the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD. 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. -
What fuel does the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD use?
The EPA lists the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
How much CO₂ does the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 340 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,100 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD?
City driving returns 25 MPG and highway driving returns 28 MPG, a gap of 3 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 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD?
The 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD has a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). 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 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD have?
The 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model Y Standard AWD at 127 combined MPG. The Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD returns 26 MPG, a gap of 101 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much petroleum does the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD use per year?
The EPA estimates the 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD consumes about 11.4 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.