2019 head-to-head · Large Car

2019 Ford Taurus vs Kia Optima

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,214/ year to fuel
21 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG

The 2019 Kia Optima is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,500 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $2,214 for the 2019 Ford Taurus (21 MPG). That's roughly $714 a year, or about $3,571 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

  • Ford Taurus
  • Kia Optima

Side by side

Ford TaurusKia Optima
$2,214 Your annual fuel cost $1,500
21 MPG Combined efficiency 31 MPG
18 MPG City 27 MPG
26 MPG Highway 37 MPG
102 cu ft Passenger volume 105 cu ft
20 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
428 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 292 g/mi
4/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
4/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
3.5L 6-cyl Engine / motor 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed automatic Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
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.

Ford Taurus vs Kia Optima across model years

  • Ford Taurus
  • Kia Optima

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 Ford Taurus has more cargo space (20 vs. 16 cu ft).

Among 30 2019 large cars, the Ford Taurus ranks 15th and the Kia Optima 6th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Ford Taurus or the 2019 Kia Optima?

Measured by cost to drive, the Kia Optima. The Ford Taurus is rated 21 MPG combined and the Kia Optima 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Ford Taurus vs. the Kia Optima per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $2,214 for the Ford Taurus and $1,500 for the Kia Optima.

Which has more cargo space?

The Ford Taurus, with 20 cu ft of luggage volume versus 16 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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