2021 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2021 Kia Forte vs Nissan Altima
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 2021 Kia Forte is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,329 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,453 for the 2021 Nissan Altima (32 MPG). That's roughly $125 a year, or about $623 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 Forte
- Nissan Altima
Side by side
| Kia Forte | Nissan Altima | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,329 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,453 |
| 35 MPG | Combined efficiency | 32 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 28 MPG |
| 41 MPG | Highway | 39 MPG |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 101 cu ft |
| 15 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 256 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 281 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 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| CVT | Transmission | CVT |
| 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 Forte vs Nissan Altima across model years
- Kia Forte
- Nissan Altima
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 Nissan Altima has more passenger space (101 vs. 96 cu ft).
Among 54 2021 midsize cars, the Kia Forte ranks 14th and the Nissan Altima 19th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Kia Forte or the 2021 Nissan Altima?
Measured by cost to drive, the Kia Forte. The Kia Forte is rated 35 MPG combined and the Nissan Altima 32 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Kia Forte vs. the Nissan Altima per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,329 for the Kia Forte and $1,453 for the Nissan Altima.
Kia Forte vs Nissan Altima in other years
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