2012 Kia Soul Eco: MPG and fuel economy
The 2012 Kia Soul Eco is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 28 combined MPG, with 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. That sits a little above the average car in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2012 Kia Soul Eco. 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. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. 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 Small Station Wagons class for the 2012 model year is the Audi A3 at 32 MPG.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2012 Kia Soul Eco. 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.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.
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 | 28 MPG |
| City MPG | 26 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 31 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,150 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 317 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2012 Kia Soul Eco compares
The 2012 Kia Soul Eco returns 28 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year average 24.7 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 13%.
The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2012 model year is the Audi A3 at 32 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Kia Soul Eco 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.
Trim variants rated for 2012
The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 2012 Kia Soul Eco. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L, 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 MPG | 26 MPG | 31 MPG | $2,150 |
| 2L, 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 MPG | 24 MPG | 29 MPG | $2,300 |
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 535.7 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,075 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,150 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,583 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Kia Soul Eco
The EPA has rated the Kia Soul Eco across 2 model years, from 2012 Kia Soul Eco through 2013 Kia Soul Eco. 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.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 28 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28 MPG | 2013 Kia Soul Eco |
| 2012 | 28 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Small Station Wagons for 2012
If you are cross-shopping the 2012 Kia Soul Eco, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Station Wagons 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 Audi A3 leads this group at 32 MPG, 4 MPG ahead of the 2012 Kia Soul Eco.
Specifications
The 2012 Kia Soul Eco runs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 6-spd, 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
- Small Station Wagons
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 6-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 10.6 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2012 Kia Soul Eco
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2012 Kia Soul Eco.
-
Is the 2012 Kia Soul Eco fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2012 Kia Soul Eco returns 28 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Small Station Wagons class for the same model year by about 13%. -
What MPG does the 2012 Kia Soul Eco get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Kia Soul Eco at 28 combined MPG, 26 MPG in city driving, and 31 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 Kia Soul Eco per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,150 for the 2012 Kia Soul Eco. 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 2012 Kia Soul Eco use?
The EPA lists the 2012 Kia Soul Eco 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 2012 Kia Soul Eco emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 317 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 4,761 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2012 Kia Soul Eco?
City driving returns 26 MPG and highway driving returns 31 MPG, a gap of 5 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 Kia Soul Eco?
The 2012 Kia Soul Eco has a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2012 Kia Soul Eco have?
The 2012 Kia Soul Eco comes with a automatic 6-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2012 Kia Soul Eco compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Small Station Wagons class for the 2012 model year is the Audi A3 at 32 combined MPG. The Kia Soul Eco returns 28 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much petroleum does the 2012 Kia Soul Eco use per year?
The EPA estimates the 2012 Kia Soul Eco consumes about 10.6 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.