The 2026 Kia K5 gets 27 to 30 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start at 30 mpg.
In the Large Cars class for 2026, the K5 ranks 5th (tied with 1 other) of 16 for combined mileage (30 mpg), 4th (tied with 1 other) of 16 for yearly fuel cost ($2,100 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 7th of 16 for tailpipe CO2 (298 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 23 mpg, costs $3,225 a year and puts out 381 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 50 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 K5's best version, 9 other models get the same and 175 get less. The 2026 K5's cheapest version costs $2,100 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 41 cost less, 6 the same and 178 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2026 Honda Civic | 2026 Civic 5Dr (Hybrid, Automatic (variable gear ratios)) | 48 | $1,300 | 186 |
| 4 | 2026 Acura Integra | 2026 Integra (4-cyl 1.5 L) | 32 | $2,400 | 277 |
| 5 | 2026 Kia K4 | 2026 K4 Hatchback (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 30 | $2,100 | 289 |
| 5 | 2026 Kia K5This car | 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start | 30 | $2,100 | 298 |
| 7 | 2026 BMW 7 Series | 2026 740i Sedan | 28 | $2,750 | 130 |
| 8 | 2026 Genesis G80 | 2026 G80 AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 23 | $3,350 | 382 |
| 8 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 2026 S500 4matic | 23 | $3,350 | 380 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 K5 w/Stop-Start, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 26 mpg city, 37 highway, 30 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 K5 version is $2,100 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Large Cars class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The K4 costs $182 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the K4 costs $910 less to fuel than the K5 (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the K5 (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the K5 | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kia K4 | 2026 K4 Hatchback (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 30 mpg | $2,100 | same figure | same | Compare |
| 2026 Acura Integra | 2026 Integra (4-cyl 1.5 L) | 32 mpg | $2,400 | 2 higher | $300 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW 7 Series | 2026 740i Sedan | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 2 lower | $650 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 26 | 37 | 30 | $2,100 | 298 | cheapest |
| 2026 K5 (Automatic (S8)) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 25 | 36 | 29 | $2,150 | 310 | +$50 |
| 2026 K5 (Automatic (AM-S8)) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AM-S8) | Front-wheel | 23 | 33 | 27 | $2,300 | 331 | +$200 |
| 2026 K5 AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 24 | 33 | 27 | $2,300 | 329 | +$200 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 K5; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start puts out 298 grams per mile; across the 4 tested versions the figure runs from 298 to 331.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Best combined figure of the K5 gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 mpg | 4 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 32 mpg | 4 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 31 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 31 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 30 mpg | 4 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 30 mpg | 4 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 4 versions were tested then and 4 now; the best figure went from 30 to 30 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 30 mpg | 30 mpg (listed in 2025 as K5 (Automatic (S8)) #2) | no change |
| 2026 K5 (Automatic (S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 29 mpg | 30 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2026 K5 (Automatic (AM-S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | no change |
| 2026 K5 AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | no change |
1 2025 version has no match in 2026.
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 KIA K5 4 DR N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 KIA K5 4 DR N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 14 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
14 complaints for the 2026 Kia K5 are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 5 | |
| Engine | 4 | |
| Electrical System | 3 | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | |
| Air Bags | 1 |
1 of the 14 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 2 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
1 recall is on file for the 2026 Kia K5 at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The K5 itself is at 30 mpg.
More Kia models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start with 30 mpg combined (26 city, 37 highway).
The 2026 Kia K5 costs between $2,100 and $2,300 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 K5 w/Stop-Start at $2,100; the dearest is the 2026 K5 (Automatic (AM-S8)) at $2,300. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 K5 AWD: 27 mpg combined (24 city, 33 highway).
The 2026 Kia K5 is 5th of 16 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Hyundai Sonata at 51 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 23 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Kia K4 at 30 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 BMW 7 Series at 28 mpg.
The 2025 model had 4 tested versions and the 2026 model has 4. The best figure went from 30 to 30 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 KIA K5 4 DR N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 KIA K5 4 DR N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
14 complaints for the 2026 Kia K5 are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Unknown Or Other (5 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2026 Kia K5 (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Kia K5: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Kia K5: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Kia K5: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Kia K5: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Kia K5: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.