The Kia Telluride has become a family favorite, offering three rows, an upscale cabin, and huge value. If one is on your list, the running-cost question is worth asking: how much does a Kia Telluride cost in gas per year?
As a big three-row SUV with a V6, it is thirstier than a compact crossover, but reasonable for its size and space. Here is the real annual cost, broken down by mileage.
How much does a Kia Telluride cost in gas per year?
Your annual fuel bill comes down to three things: how far you drive, what you pay per gallon, and the vehicle’s MPG. The Kia Telluride returns about 21 MPG, so here is what a year of driving costs at three common mileage levels, using the current national average of roughly $3.91 a gallon.
| Miles driven per year | Annual gas cost | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 miles | $1,862 | $155 |
| 12,000 miles | $2,234 | $186 |
| 15,000 miles | $2,793 | $233 |
So the typical driver spends around $2,514 a year, or about $209 a month, on fuel in a Kia Telluride. That works out to roughly $0.19 per mile in fuel alone. Pay less than the national average where you live and the bill drops; at $3.50 a gallon the 13,500-mile figure falls to about $2,250, while at $4.50 it climbs to around $2,893. Check what you actually pay on the live gas price tracker and plug it into the gas cost calculator for a number matched to your driving.
Zoom out and the figure gets your attention. Over five years, a typical Kia Telluride driver spends roughly $12,568 on fuel alone, and a decade of ownership close to double that. That is real money, which is exactly why fuel cost deserves a place in the buying decision alongside the sticker price and the monthly payment. A thriftier trim, engine, or drivetrain quietly pays you back at every fill-up.
What kind of MPG does the Kia Telluride really get?
Recent Kia Telluride models earn an EPA combined rating of around 21 MPG from the 3.8-liter V6, roughly 19 to 20 in the city and 24 to 26 on the highway. Front-wheel drive edges out all-wheel drive by a mile or so. There is no hybrid option, so the V6 is what you get, and its numbers are typical for a large three-row SUV.
Keep in mind that the window-sticker number is a lab figure. Real-world mileage usually lands 10 to 15% lower, shaped by short trips, cold starts, aggressive acceleration, roof racks, and under-inflated tires. The honest way to know your Kia Telluride’s number is to measure it: fill up, note the odometer, and run the math through the MPG calculator, then confirm the gallons any trip will use with the fuel consumption calculator.
Monthly, weekly, and per-mile cost
Big annual numbers are easy to ignore, so break them down. At the typical 13,500 miles a year, a Kia Telluride runs about $209 a month and roughly $48 a week in fuel. On a per-mile basis that is about $0.19, but fuel is only part of what a mile really costs. Tires, oil, brakes, and depreciation stack on top, which is why the cost per mile calculator gives a truer picture of ownership. If most of your miles are a daily commute, the commute cost calculator shows exactly what that drive adds up to each month.
Here is a concrete example. A 30-mile round-trip commute five days a week comes to about 7,800 miles a year, which in a Kia Telluride means roughly $1,452 in commuting fuel alone, before you drive anywhere on the weekend. Small changes to that daily routine, carpooling twice a week, trimming one errand trip, or working from home a day, translate straight into fuel savings you can feel.
What changes your Kia Telluride’s yearly fuel bill
Miles driven. This is the biggest lever by far. A 20,000-mile-a-year driver spends nearly double what a 10,000-mile driver does in the same vehicle, no matter how efficient it is.
Local fuel prices. Where you live matters enormously. The same Kia Telluride costs hundreds more per year in high-price states like California than in cheaper states. Compare your state on the gas prices by state page to see where you fall.
City versus highway. The Kia Telluride’s highway number beats its city number, so a driver stuck in stop-and-go traffic burns more than the combined rating suggests. Smooth, steady highway miles are the cheapest kind, and in dollar terms a mostly-city driver can spend a few hundred dollars a year more than a highway commuter in the very same vehicle.
Fuel grade. Good news here: the Kia Telluride is designed to run on regular unleaded, not premium, so you are already buying the cheapest grade at the pump. Cars that require premium can cost hundreds more a year, so sticking with regular where the manufacturer allows it is a saving many drivers overlook.
Driving style and upkeep. Hard acceleration, speeding, and a neglected air filter or soft tires all quietly raise the bill. Gentle inputs and basic maintenance protect the MPG you paid for.
How the Kia Telluride compares
Among three-row midsize SUVs, the Telluride is about average on efficiency. It uses more than a two-row crossover, which is expected given the size and seating for eight, but it is competitive with V6-powered rivals. Hybrid three-row SUVs will beat it at the pump, but few match its space-and-value combination.
If you are curious whether an electric vehicle would be cheaper to run than the Kia Telluride, the EV vs gas by state tool lays the two side by side using your local energy and fuel prices, which is the only fair way to compare.
How to cut your Kia Telluride’s fuel costs
- Choose front-wheel drive over all-wheel drive if you do not need the traction.
- Do not carry an empty roof box; a tall three-row SUV feels the drag.
- Buy on cheaper days with our best day to buy gas guide and a gas price app.
- Keep tires inflated and lighten unnecessary cargo weight.
- Compare your state on the gas prices by state page.
Does fuel economy matter when buying a Kia Telluride?
More than most buyers realize. Two versions of the same vehicle with different MPG can differ by hundreds of dollars a year at the pump, and over a typical ownership period that gap can rival the price difference between trims or engines. When you compare a Kia Telluride against rivals, or one Kia Telluride engine against another, it pays to look past the monthly payment and fold the yearly fuel cost into the total. A slightly pricier but thriftier version often costs less to own once the fuel is counted.
This is also where a hybrid, a smaller engine, or an efficient drivetrain earns its keep. Run the versions you are considering through the gas cost calculator side by side, and if you are open to going electric, the EV vs gas by state tool shows how charging would compare with fueling a Kia Telluride where you live.
So, is the Kia Telluride cheap to run?
About average for a big three-row SUV. The Telluride is not the cheapest to fuel, but its running costs are fair for the space and features you get, and its strong resale value rounds out an appealing ownership picture.
How we calculate these figures
The math is transparent: annual gas cost = (miles driven ÷ combined MPG) × price per gallon. We use the Kia Telluride’s combined fuel-economy rating from the EPA’s official ratings for recent model years, an assumed 13,500 miles a year (close to the U.S. average), and the current national average pump price of about $3.91 a gallon. Change any input and the total changes with it.
Pump prices trace to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly retail survey, refreshed on our state price pages every business day. For your exact trim, engine, and model year, confirm the rating and measure your real-world MPG with the MPG calculator. Read how we source everything on our methodology and sources pages.
Figures reviewed by Alex Morgan · Last reviewed: July 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Kia Telluride cost in gas per year?
About $2,510 a year for a typical 13,500-mile driver at roughly 21 MPG and the national average near $3.91 a gallon. Highway-heavy driving lowers it.
What is the Kia Telluride’s MPG?
Recent Tellurides earn around 21 MPG combined from the V6 (roughly 19 to 20 city, 24 to 26 highway). All-wheel drive is a bit lower.
How much does a Kia Telluride cost in gas per month?
Roughly $210 a month for a typical driver, depending on mileage and local prices.
Is the Kia Telluride good on gas?
It is about average for a three-row midsize SUV, thirstier than a compact crossover but competitive with V6 rivals.
Does the Telluride take regular gas?
Yes, the Telluride runs on regular unleaded, which helps keep costs reasonable for its size.
The bottom line
Expect a Kia Telluride to cost around $2,514 a year in fuel for a typical driver, or about $209 a month, with your real number rising or falling on your mileage and local prices. On running costs, the Kia Telluride is about average for a three-row for its class, and a few simple habits shave even more off the total.
Want your exact figure? Run your mileage through the gas cost calculator and check today’s prices in your state. To see what fuel-saving habits are worth, try the fuel savings calculator.