2015 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2015 Kia Optima vs Volkswagen Passat
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,661 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $1,788 for the 2015 Kia Optima (26 MPG). That's roughly $128 a year, or about $639 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Kia Optima
- Volkswagen Passat
Side by side
| Kia Optima | Volkswagen Passat | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,788 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,661 |
| 26 MPG | Combined efficiency | 28 MPG |
| 23 MPG | City | 24 MPG |
| 33 MPG | Highway | 34 MPG |
| 102 cu ft | Passenger volume | 102 cu ft |
| 15 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 334 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 318 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 7/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo |
| 6-speed automatic | Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Kia Optima vs Volkswagen Passat across model years
- Kia Optima
- Volkswagen Passat
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Passat has more cargo space (16 vs. 15 cu ft).
Among 69 2015 midsize cars, the Kia Optima ranks 33rd and the Volkswagen Passat 29th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Kia Optima or the 2015 Volkswagen Passat?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Passat. The Kia Optima is rated 26 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Passat 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Kia Optima vs. the Volkswagen Passat per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,788 for the Kia Optima and $1,661 for the Volkswagen Passat.
Which has more cargo space?
The Volkswagen Passat, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 15 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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