2020 Kia Optima MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims
Every trim takes regular — no premium needed.
Is the 2020 Kia Optima good on gas?
At up to 31 MPG combined, the 2020 Kia Optima is better than average for a Large Cars — that class averages about 20.3 MPG across 2,605 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.
Real-world MPG vs the EPA number
The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.
At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $1,839/year (roughly $153/month, about $12.26 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 484 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →
2020 Kia Optima trims & fuel economy
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr (today's price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl, AM7 automatic, FWD | REGULAR | 31 | $1,839 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl, S6 automatic, FWD | REGULAR | 27 | $2,111 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl, S6 automatic, FWD | REGULAR | 24 | $2,375 |
2020 Kia Optima specs
What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.
| Engine options | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo · 2.4L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| Transmission | AM7 automatic · S6 automatic |
| Drive type | FWD |
| EPA body class | Large Cars |
| Fuel | Regular |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 292–371 g/mi |
Other years of the Kia Optima
Similar cars (Large Cars)
Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides
3 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.