2023 Kia Rio: MPG and fuel economy
The 2023 Kia Rio is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 36 combined MPG, with 32 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway. That sits a little above the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2023 Kia Rio. 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. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2023 model year is the Porsche Taycan GTS at 83 MPG.
- The Kia Rio has gained 10 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2001 Kia Rio at 26 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $2,500 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2023 Kia Rio. 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 | 36 MPG |
| City MPG | 32 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 41 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,650 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 250 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2023 Kia Rio compares
The 2023 Kia Rio returns 36 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 33.7 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 7%.
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2023 model year is the Porsche Taycan GTS at 83 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Kia Rio alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2023 model year (across all classes) returns 33.7 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 2023 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 416.7 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $825 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,650 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $2,750 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Kia Rio
The EPA has rated the Kia Rio across 23 model years, from 2001 Kia Rio through 2023 Kia Rio. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2001 Kia Rio returned 26 MPG. The most recent 2023 Kia Rio returns 36 MPG. That is an improvement of 10 MPG over 22 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 36 MPG | this page |
| 2022 | 36 MPG | 2022 Kia Rio |
| 2021 | 36 MPG | 2021 Kia Rio |
| 2020 | 36 MPG | 2020 Kia Rio |
| 2019 | 32 MPG | 2019 Kia Rio |
| 2018 | 32 MPG | 2018 Kia Rio |
| 2017 | 31 MPG | 2017 Kia Rio |
| 2016 | 31 MPG | 2016 Kia Rio |
| 2015 | 30 MPG | 2015 Kia Rio |
| 2014 | 30 MPG | 2014 Kia Rio |
| 2013 | 32 MPG | 2013 Kia Rio |
| 2012 | 32 MPG | 2012 Kia Rio |
| 2011 | 30 MPG | 2011 Kia Rio |
| 2010 | 31 MPG | 2010 Kia Rio |
| 2009 | 30 MPG | 2009 Kia Rio |
| 2008 | 29 MPG | 2008 Kia Rio |
| 2007 | 29 MPG | 2007 Kia Rio |
| 2006 | 29 MPG | 2006 Kia Rio |
| 2005 | 25 MPG | 2005 Kia Rio |
| 2004 | 26 MPG | 2004 Kia Rio |
| 2003 | 26 MPG | 2003 Kia Rio |
| 2002 | 26 MPG | 2002 Kia Rio |
| 2001 | 26 MPG | 2001 Kia Rio |
Compare against other Compact Cars for 2023
If you are cross-shopping the 2023 Kia Rio, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact 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 Porsche Taycan GTS leads this group at 83 MPG, 47 MPG ahead of the 2023 Kia Rio.
Specifications
The 2023 Kia Rio runs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (av-s1), sending power through front-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
- Compact Cars
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S1)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 8.3 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2023 Kia Rio
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2023 Kia Rio.
-
Is the 2023 Kia Rio fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2023 Kia Rio returns 36 combined MPG, and the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year sits at 33.7 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2023 Kia Rio get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Kia Rio at 36 combined MPG, 32 MPG in city driving, and 41 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 2023 Kia Rio per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,650 for the 2023 Kia Rio. 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 2023 Kia Rio use?
The EPA lists the 2023 Kia Rio as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Kia Rio become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Kia Rio, the 2001 Kia Rio, returned 26 combined MPG. The most recent 2023 Kia Rio returns 36 MPG, an improvement of 10 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2023 Kia Rio emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 250 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 3,750 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2023 Kia Rio?
City driving returns 32 MPG and highway driving returns 41 MPG, a gap of 9 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2023 Kia Rio?
The 2023 Kia Rio has a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2023 Kia Rio have?
The 2023 Kia Rio comes with a automatic (av-s1) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2023 Kia Rio compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2023 model year is the Porsche Taycan GTS at 83 combined MPG. The Kia Rio returns 36 MPG, a gap of 47 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
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.