Kia Sportage vs Kia EV6: fuel economy and fuel cost
In model year 2026 the Kia EV6 is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $800 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (EV6 Standard Range, 115 MPGe combined), against $1,540 for the Kia Sportage (Sportage Hybrid, 42 MPG combined). That is $740 a year, or $3,700 over five years.
One of the two is electric-only; the other has no electric configuration in this model year. Costs assume 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel and electricity prices for both vehicles, using the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Each figure is rounded to $10 and every difference is calculated from the rounded values.
The EPA is still publishing model year 2027 ratings, so this page compares model year 2026, the latest complete year.
- Hybrid
- Small SUVs
Kia Sportage
Lowest fuel cost configuration
Sportage Hybrid
Plug-in versions (electric or plug-in hybrid) are not used for this headline; see the powertrain table below.
$10.27 per 100 miles
15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices
6 configurations in MY2026
- Electric
- Small SUVs
Kia EV6
Lowest fuel cost configuration
EV6 Standard Range
$5.33 per 100 miles
15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices
237 mi EPA range · 29 kWh/100 mi
5 configurations in MY2026
What the fuel costs
Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration
- Kia Sportage$1,540 a year · $10.27 per 100 mi
- Kia EV6$800 a year · $5.33 per 100 mi
Difference per year
$740
Kia EV6 costs less to fuel
Over 5 years
$3,700
$740 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices
Head to head, MY2026
| Measure | Kia Sportage | Kia EV6 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost configuration | Sportage Hybrid | EV6 Standard Range |
| Powertrain | Hybrid | Electric |
| Combined rating | 42 MPG | 115 MPGe |
| City rating | 41 MPG | 128 MPGe |
| Highway rating | 44 MPG | 103 MPGe |
| EPA range | — | 237 mi |
| Electricity use | — | 29 kWh/100 mi |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,540/yr | $800/yr (better) |
| Cost per 100 miles | $10.27 | $5.33 (better) |
| Annual cost range, all configurations | $1,430–$2,740 | $800–$1,130 |
| Configurations in MY2026 | 6 | 5 |
| EPA class | Small SUVs | Small SUVs |
Best configuration by powertrain
| Powertrain | Kia Sportage | Kia EV6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 28 MPG · $2,330/yr Sportage | Not offered in MY2026 |
| Hybrid | 42 MPG · $1,540/yr Sportage Hybrid | Not offered in MY2026 |
| Plug-in hybrid | 36 MPG gas-only · $1,430/yr Sportage Plug-in Hybrid | Not offered in MY2026 |
| Electric | Not offered in MY2026 | 115 MPGe · $800/yr EV6 Standard Range |
Each cell shows the combined rating and the annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration with that powertrain.
Where each one comes out ahead
Generated from the numbers above, comparing the lowest fuel cost configurations. No subjective judgements.
Kia Sportage
- Offers gas configurations in MY2026; the Kia EV6 does not
- Offers hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Kia EV6 does not
- Offers plug-in hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Kia EV6 does not
Kia EV6
- Lower annual fuel cost: $800 vs $1,540
- Offers electric configurations in MY2026; the Kia Sportage does not
Ratings in MPG and MPGe are not compared directly here; annual fuel cost is the common yardstick.
Year by year
| Model year | Kia Sportage | Kia EV6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | Per year | Combined | Per year | |
| 2026 | 24–42 MPG | $1,430–$2,740 | 83–115 MPGe | $800–$1,130 |
| 2025 | 25–43 MPG | $1,380–$2,650 | 83–115 MPGe | $800–$1,100 |
| 2024 | 25–43 MPG | $1,380–$2,660 | 83–117 MPGe | $800–$1,130 |
| 2023 | 25–43 MPG | $1,380–$2,620 | 79–117 MPGe | $770–$1,170 |
| 2022 | 21–26 MPG | $2,540–$3,060 | 105–117 MPGe | $800–$870 |
Earlier model years are costed with today's fuel prices, so the table shows how each model's efficiency changed, not what fuel cost at the time. Ranges cover every configuration of that model year.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to fuel, the Kia Sportage or the Kia EV6?
The Kia EV6 is cheaper: about $800 a year against $1,540 for the Kia Sportage, a difference of $740 a year. That compares the lowest-cost configuration of each in model year 2026 at 15,000 miles a year with the same fuel prices.
How much would the Kia EV6 save over five years?
About $3,700 ($740 a year for five years), assuming 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel prices. Your total depends on how much you drive and on local prices; see fuel cost by state.
Can MPG and MPGe be compared?
The Kia EV6 is rated 115 MPGe and the Kia Sportage 42 MPG. MPGe is the EPA's way of expressing electric efficiency per 33.7 kWh, the energy in a gallon of gasoline. It is a different measure from gasoline MPG, so annual fuel cost ($800 vs $1,540) is the better yardstick.
How is the annual fuel cost calculated?
Distance of 15,000 miles a year at the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Gasoline is priced at $4.36/gal (EIA U.S. average for regular, Sep 2026) and electricity at 18.3¢/kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, Jul 2026); premium and diesel configurations use their own EIA prices. Each result is rounded to $10, and differences are calculated from the rounded figures.
Are the Kia Sportage and the Kia EV6 in the same class?
Yes. The EPA classes both as Small SUVs.
Explore these cars
- Kia Sportage: ratings, trims and every model year
- Kia EV6: ratings, trims and every model year
- 2026 Kia Sportage: all configurations
- 2026 Kia EV6: all configurations
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