The 2026 Kia K4 gets 28 to 33 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS at 33 mpg.
In the Midsize Cars class for 2026, the K4 ranks 8th (tied with 1 other) of 26 for combined mileage (33 mpg), 8th (tied with 1 other) of 24 for yearly fuel cost ($1,900 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 12th of 26 for tailpipe CO2 (267 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 28 mpg, costs $2,400 a year and puts out 282.5 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, 33 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 K4's best version, 2 other models get the same and 199 get less. The 2026 K4's cheapest version costs $1,900 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 31 cost less, 1 the same and 193 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2026 Lexus ES | 2026 ES 350h | 46 | $1,700 | 191 |
| 6 | 2026 Honda Accord | 2026 Accord Hybrid Sport/Touring | 44 | $1,400 | 201 |
| 7 | 2026 Toyota Crown | 2026 Crown Hybrid AWD | 41 | $1,500 | 214 |
| 8 | 2026 Kia K4This car | 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS | 33 | $1,900 | 267 |
| 8 | 2026 Nissan Sentra | 2026 Sentra (2-mode) | 33 | $1,900 | 268 |
| 10 | 2026 BMW 5 Series | 2026 530i Sedan | 31 | $2,500 | 133 |
| 11 | 2026 Nissan Altima | 2026 Altima | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
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 K4 4DR w/ DMS, 4-cyl 2.0 L: 29 mpg city, 39 highway, 33 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 K4 version is $1,900 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Midsize 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.
Both cost the same to fuel.
Over 5 years both cost the same to fuel 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 K4 (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the K4 | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Nissan Sentra | 2026 Sentra (2-mode) | 33 mpg | $1,900 | same figure | same | Compare |
| 2026 BMW 5 Series | 2026 530i Sedan | 31 mpg | $2,500 | 2 lower | $600 more a year | - |
| 2026 Nissan Altima | 2026 Altima | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 3 lower | $200 more a year | Compare |
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 K4 4DR w/ DMS | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AV-S1) | Front-wheel | 29 | 39 | 33 | $1,900 | 269 | cheapest |
| 2026 K4 without DMS | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AV-S1) | Front-wheel | 29 | 39 | 33 | $1,900 | 267 | cheapest |
| 2026 K4 Hatchback (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AV-S1) | Front-wheel | 28 | 34 | 30 | $2,100 | 289 | +$200 |
| 2026 K4 | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 26 | 33 | 28 | $2,200 | 314 | +$300 |
| 2026 K4 Hatchback (4-cyl 1.6 L) | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 26 | 33 | 28 | $2,200 | 314 | +$300 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 K4; 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 K4 4DR w/ DMS puts out 269 grams per mile; across the 5 tested versions the figure runs from 267 to 314.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Best combined figure of the K4 gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 33 mpg | 5 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 3 versions were tested then and 5 now; the best figure went from 34 to 33 mpg (down 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 33 mpg | 34 mpg (listed in 2025 as K4 (4-cyl 2.0 L, Automatic (AV-S1)) #2) | -1 mpg |
| 2026 K4 without DMS, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 33 mpg | 34 mpg (listed in 2025 as K4 (4-cyl 2.0 L, Automatic (AV-S1)) #2) | -1 mpg |
| 2026 K4 Hatchback (4-cyl 2.0 L), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 30 mpg | 34 mpg (listed in 2025 as K4 (4-cyl 2.0 L, Automatic (AV-S1)) #2) | -4 mpg |
| 2026 K4, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 28 mpg | 29 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2026 K4 Hatchback (4-cyl 1.6 L), 4-cyl 1.6 L | 28 mpg | 29 mpg (listed in 2025 as K4 (4-cyl 1.6 L, Automatic (S8)) #3) | -1 mpg |
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 K4 4 DR N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| 2026 KIA K4 5DR 5 HB N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 13 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: K4, K4 5DR.
13 complaints for the 2026 Kia K4 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 | |
| Lane Departure | 4 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 |
6 of the 13 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: K4, K4 5DR.
1 recall is on file for the 2026 Kia K4 at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: K4, K4 5DR.
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia K4 vehicles. The rear center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2026 K4 and the third-row center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2027 Telluride may not latch properly.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the anchor buckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The K4 itself is at 33 mpg.
More Kia models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS with 33 mpg combined (29 city, 39 highway).
The 2026 Kia K4 costs between $1,900 and $2,200 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS at $1,900; the dearest is the 2026 K4 at $2,200. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
The 2026 Kia K4 is 8th of 26 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Prius at 57 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 28 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Toyota Crown at 41 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Nissan Sentra at 33 mpg.
The 2025 model had 3 tested versions and the 2026 model has 5. The best figure went from 34 to 33 mpg (down 1).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 KIA K4 4 DR N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 5; 2026 KIA K4 5DR 5 HB N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 5. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
13 complaints for the 2026 Kia K4 are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Steering (5 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2026 Kia K4 (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Kia K4: 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 K4: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Kia K4: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Kia K4: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Kia K4: 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.